Dakota Joshua discusses momentum swing that propelled game-winning goal vs. Blackhawks
A mad-dash three goal comeback to defeat the Blackhawks 3-2 saw Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua all score 10 minutes apart to avoid dropping their third straight game. The third period was such a drastic change from what transpired in the previous two. Joshua said that all it takes is one bounce in their favour to give them a jolt of energy.
“I think it’s just momentum swings, you got to believe that you can comeback and that was a big two points that we needed,” Joshua said. “It was nice to see us come together and squeeze it out.”
The Blackhawks started to take over the game in the second period, a lot of which transpired from the Leafs shooting themselves in the foot. The message from head coach Craig Berube to the team was simple at that moment.
“Self-inflicted wounds that we were doing to ourselves,” Joshua said. “Too many turnovers that can’t happen and we just have to be better.”
When Joshua was asked post-game about what the Leafs can take from a comeback victory like that, the response centred around how it has to come from within.
“I think it’s a lesson that when we’re playing our game, things go the right way and when we’re not, things go the wrong way,” Joshua said. “I think it’s a pretty simple message, it’s a full 60- minute game and that’s what we need to win.”
Joshua, who was acquired from Vancouver in the off-season, now has six goals and four assists through his first 30 games while donning the Leafs’ blue and white.
The Leafs will now head out on a three-game road trip that will make stops in Washington, Nashville and Dallas before returning home to host Pittsburgh prior to the holiday freeze.