Marner: Leafs ‘don’t have any quit in this locker room’
The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a 4-1 first period deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-5 in overtime on Monday.
The win came just over two weeks after the Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 first period deficit against the Lightning before winning 4-3 in overtime.
andquot;We have no differences in this locker room,andquot; winger Mitch Marner said Monday after scoring four points. andquot;A lot of faith in our group, which, regardless of the situation, is never out of the game.andquot;
“I don’t think anybody threw a punch at halftime,” continued Matthew Knies. “Everyone was really excited to come back and prove people wrong and to simplify well and play to their strengths. Everyone contributed today and everyone did a great job.”
Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov pulled again in the first period against Tampa Bay and was replaced by Joseph Woll, who also earned a shutout on October 21.
andquot;I have all the faith in the world that he will return to this team,andquot; said Woll, who allowed one goal on 19 shots in the return trip. andquot;We and#039;showed that many times. I’m just trying to do my job and give us the best chance.andquot;
Monday and the win snapped a four-game winless streak for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 6-4-2 on the season. Head coach Sheldon Keefe hopes his team can build on that performance after showing their full potential on their return.
andquot;Obviously the score helps,” Keefe said. “If we come here tonight, I will gladly leave here.
andquot;That second period was, in my opinion, the best period we played all season.andquot;
Toronto has three more games this week, starting with the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, before back-to-back games against the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks on Friday and Saturday, all on home ice.
