The difference between the Jonathan Bernier that was letting in deflating early goals earlier in the season and the one that held the fort to start the first period, and the impact that had on the course of tonight’s game, is the natural starting point for this review.

– A 39-save shutout – eight to start the game before the Leafs registered their first shot — for Bernier, who can make a believer out of you quickly when he’s confidently challenging shooters and cutting down angles — as a sub 6’0 goalie, it’s the key to his existence – sponging up rebounds, and making sharp reactionary saves in tight. He was “big and soft,” as Babcock put it after the game, and mixed in a tussle with Perry for good measure.

– Wins in six of his last eight has Bernier up to a .904 save percentage on the season after spending seemingly forever in the .880s. Tonight was his third 39-save performance in a row (wins over Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Anaheim).

– The Ducks, winners of four of five, looked far from out of the woods in terms of their struggles this season. They can’t score worth a lick and that’s got everyone thinking the team needs secondary scoring help behind Getzlaf and Perry, which is fair, but their most obvious issue tonight was that they looked miserable breaking out of their own end, starting with some poor puck movement by their defence (where Cam Fowler’s absence is really felt). One team looked markedly more organized coming out of its end than the other.

A chunk of the credit also goes to the Leafs’ forecheck, which the excellent Eric Stephens, Ducks beat writer, took note of during the game:

Strong forechecking by the Leafs. First time Ducks have been really bothered by it in several games. — Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) January 7, 2016

– Once the Leafs settled in and took over the game with a dominant second period, with a couple of goals to show for it, they looked like they were having fun out there; the confidence level the team is playing with couldn’t be more night and day from where things left off at the end of last season. JvR, Gardiner, Kadri and Komarov in particular are beaming confidence at the moment. Babs: “Get the guys feeling good about themselves again.” Mission accomplished so far in a pretty short time frame.

– A few great shifts from Komarov were a big part of the Leafs settling into the game after a bit of a shaky start. He started with a dangerous shorthanded rush, before racing back and breaking up a pass in of the Leaf front at the other end, before coming back out the next shift and dominating a defenceman down low to recover the puck on the forecheck. A few minutes later, he beat a D wide on the PP and created a good chance in front. Slapped a great pass after spotting the late man on Kadri’s goal in the second period, as well. Continues to do it all each night.

Leo's an epic troll. Parks on edge of crease 5-10 secs after a whistle, back turned, adjusting gloves to PO goalies pic.twitter.com/4Y5ZMwLpjb — Alec Brownscombe (@MapleLeafsHS) January 7, 2016

– Plus two and two shots is what Gardiner comes out with in the boxscore tonight, but he deserved more, and was particularly worthy of an assist on the second PA Parenteau goal after slicing the neutral zone with a gorgeous diagonal pass to create the entry in some space for Bozak down the left. Oozing confidence right now, he showed excellent problem solving with the puck in his own end to get the team moving north, and was both active and dangerous joining the rush. His only real blemish was Bieksa blowing past him in the first. This has been a pretty strong testament to the 300-game rule for talented young puckmoving defencemen like Gardiner, as he’s taking the next step we’ve been waiting for.

– With last change, the PA Parenteau, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk line took the brunt of Getzlaf and Perry matchup, and were doubled up in possession based on shot attempts when on the ice against that duo, but a couple of good shifts were all the difference, as well as one offensive zone faceoff win by Bozak that led to Hunwick’s blocked point shot that Parenteau pounced on for his first goal of the night. Babcock compensated by starting the Bozak line in the offensive zone 90% of the time at even strength. The Kadri line got the tough zone starts (23% offensive zone starts), and Kadri and Komarov responded admirably with 69% and 61% possession respectively.

– Arguably Kadri’s best performance of the season. To go along with a remarkable 25 shot attempts for vs. 11 against despite the tough zone starts, his boxscore stats tonight: A goal, five hits, eight shots on goal, and 50% on the dot. Made a diving play to break up a possible-goal before he threw a borderline hit on Corey Perry (who stayed in the game, which might’ve saved Kadri, as he’s been a marked man by the League in the past). Goals in two consecutive, points in three consecutive, and 10 points in his last nine games. Now on a 45-point pace over 82, which is starting to get more into the neighbourhood of what’s expected of him after a dismal start offensively.

– Might’ve been a garbage-time point, but Dion Phaneuf is up to 17 assists on the season. Phaneuf has faded a little in the second half of seasons before, but to illustrate: a 37-assist pace would be the second highest of Dion’s career if it were to hold. For context, he had just 23 assists in his last full 80-game season in 2013-14. Pretty clear Phaneuf is at his best as a physical, offensive defenceman who is effective at holding his blueline defensively — not a shutdown guy who should start every shift in his own end against the League’s best — and Babcock deserves credit for assessing as much immediately upon his arrival. He’s playing in the right spot and shouldering less of the burden, as Babcock promised from the outset.

– Really impressive how the Leafs kept the pedal to the metal tonight. After going up 4-0, the Leafs registered 21 shot attempts to the Ducks’ 12 in the remainder of the third.

Even Strength Shot Attempts

Even Strength Scoring Chances

Shot Locations

Leafs Player Stats — Toronto 4 vs. Anaheim 0

PLAYER G A P +/- PIM S HITS BKS FO% PP TOI SH TOI TOI M. Hunwick 0 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 - 0:43 2:44 19:20 D. Phaneuf 0 1 1 2 0 3 2 0 - 5:35 1:16 23:14 P. Parenteau 2 0 2 2 0 4 1 0 - 5:43 0:00 19:56 J. Lupul 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 5:31 0:00 15:31 J. van Riemsdyk 0 1 1 2 2 5 1 0 - 4:39 0:00 18:13 S. Matthias 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 - 0:14 0:00 10:20 P. Holland 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 40% 5:16 1:07 16:43 D. Winnik 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 - 0:22 1:30 12:54 B. Boyes 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 - 4:49 0:00 12:26 M. Arcobello 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 40% 0:14 0:00 9:17 M. Grabner 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 - 0:49 2:18 12:52 T. Bozak 0 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 55% 5:43 1:20 21:01 N. Kadri 1 0 1 1 0 8 5 0 50% 5:46 0:00 15:54 M. Rielly 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 - 0:44 1:42 17:46 R. Polak 0 1 1 1 7 1 2 1 - 1:12 1:31 15:15 L. Komarov 0 1 1 1 0 2 3 0 0% 5:45 1:45 18:53 J. Gardiner 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 - 4:56 0:00 19:50 M. Marincin 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 - 0:57 0:47 14:35

Mike Babcock Post Game

Leafs / Ducks Game in 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWTIZaFHn68