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ANAHEIM, Calif .– (AP) – California's road turn has always been a problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was not the case this season.
Morgan Reilly scored with 1:43 remaining in overtime to allow the Maple Leafs to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Friday night for a three-game sweep in the Golden State.
This victory allowed Toronto to overtake Nashville and Tampa Bay for the best NHL record at 14-6-0. The Maple Leafs – who defeated Los Angeles on Tuesday and San Jose on Thursday – have won six of seven wins and are undefeated in three overtime games this season.
Upon arrival in the trip, Toronto had dropped 10 of 12 in California.
"I've had a lot of good teams that are not able to do it.A team always seems to put you on the back," said Toronto coach Mike Babcock. "I think we have very good veterans and we need to stay steady on the rudder, we are fortunate to be a really good team over time and continue to progress."
Reilly was wide open to goalkeeper John Gibson's right when he took a Mitch Marner pass and snapped a wrist shot for his ninth of the season. This is his twentieth helper and his 26th point, which places him in second place in the league. Reilly is 6th tied with 25 points.
Patrick Marleau scored the other goal of Toronto. Garret Sparks, who was only playing his fourth game of the season, stopped 38 shots, a career high.
"I felt very good, the goal that I left did not please me, but other than that, it's about competing and trying to get in front of the next puck." "said Sparks.
Pontus Aberg scored for Anaheim and Gibson stopped 33 shots. The Ducks lost three of four.
Anaheim had two open scoring chances in the third period, but failed to convert.
"We were at the mercy of the attack and tonight was a demonstration," said Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle. "It was probably the most frustrating time of the year because of the open nets we missed."
Marleau opened the scoring less than seven minutes into the game when he was in front of the net and redirected Jake Gardiner's pass with his left skate. This is Marleau's 539th career goal, giving him 32nd place in the NHL Career Rankings.
Aberg created the tie with less than two minutes to go in the second period with a 45-foot shot hit for his sixth at the head of the team. The goal broke the 124: 05 drought of the Ducks, which goes back to the second half of Monday's game against Nashville.
NOTES: Toronto is 9-0 when it scores for the first time this season. … The Maple Leafs are 2-1-0 in the second game from back to back. … Marleau has 32 goals against Anaheim, who ranks first among active players. … Toronto C John Tavares suffered a series of seven points. He had five goals and five assists during that period. … Aberg has scored points in three of his last five games (two goals and one assist). … Anaheim has killed 28 of its last 31 victims successfully. … The Ducks have been led in overtime in seven home games and they are 3-2-2. … Anaheim has limited the teams to two goals or less in 11 games this season, which is tied for second place in the championship. Boston leads with 12.
FOLLOWING
Maple Leafs: Welcome Columbus Monday.
Ducks: Welcome Colorado Sunday.
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