Johnsson’s Hat Trick Leads Leafs in Another Embarrassing Loss for Flyers

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers countered a horrific start in Buffalo on Wednesday with one of the best performances of the season against the Rangers in a 4-0 win on Friday. And just as quickly as the team reeled people back in, they unleashed another embarrassing performance on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs scored four goals in the first 12:20 of the game, en route to a 6-0 rout over the Flyers on Saturday night.

It didn't take Toronto long to capitalize, as Andreas Johnsson used his speed to jump up on the play and go around Robert Hagg. Johnsson faked a hard slap shot and Calvin Pickard bit. As he tried to recover, Johnsson slipped a shot through the legs to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.

Johnsson scored again less than two minutes later, blocking a shot by Christian Folin and taking off on a breakaway. Again, he went five-hole on Pickard.

Less than 90 seconds later, the Maple Leafs scored again. After Kasperi Kapanen and Jake Gardiner couldn't finish on a two-on-one, Patrick Marleau picked up the rebound and buried it into an empty net as chaos ensued in the crease to make it 3-0 at 7:44.

Johnsson finished off the hat trick at 12:20. Following a turnover by Jake Voracek, he took control and slipped another shot through the legs of Pickard.

That ended Pickard's net, as he allowed four goals on seven shots. Anthony Stolarz, who was called up following Friday's win, took over in net.

Stolarz started well, making 15 straight saves through the next period of play. Eventually, the Leafs continued to make the margin greater with two more goals in the second. 

Josh Leivo made it 5-0 off a counter-rush after the Flyers failed to convert on an odd-man rush. After some great stickhandling from Mitch Marner, John Tavares buried his 15th goal of the season at 17:10 to make it 6-0.

Stolarz made 31 saves on 33 shots. Garret Sparks stopped all 35 shots the Flyers took.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• TOR Andreas Johnsson (3) (Connor Brown, Igor Ozhiganov) 4:45
• TOR Johnsson (4) (Unassisted) 6:19
• TOR Patrick Marleau (5) (Unassisted) 7:44
• TOR Johnsson (5) (Unassisted) 12:20

2nd Period

• TOR Josh Leivo (3) (Mitch Marner) 11:07
• TOR John Tavares (15) (Marner, Morgan Rielly) 17:10

3rd Period

• No Scoring

Game Statistics