Exactly one week ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs(4-4-1) played one of their best games in years. They beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 and brought their record to 4-2-0 as they boarded a plane to Columbus. Not only were they winning, but they were playing a brand of hockey that was tangibly different than the Leafs of old, leading a whole fanbase to overreact and crown this team “different.”
Here we are, the following Monday, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in Winnipeg to play a perfect Jets (8-0-0) and are at what they hope is the end of a three-game losing streak. It’s been a hard watch over the last week, and it’s going to be a tough task on Monday to get back in the win column. The puck drops at 7:30 pm EST.
Toronto Maple Leafs ‘Core Four’ Need To Dominate
A finger can be pointed at many issues, and players, that have sunk the Toronto Maple Leafs over the last three games. A lack of defensive discipline, too many penalties, costly goaltending, sloppy puck management, and power play ineptness are all among them. However, no matter the coach or what new defensemen you bring in, one thing remains true with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If the “Core Four” are at their best, the Toronto Maple Leafs win. If they’re not, they lose.
The “Core Four” (Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Tavares), have combined for only 30 points in the first nine games, and only nine have been on the power play. Through nine games last season, they had 43 points combined and 18 on the power play. Individually, the stats don’t look too bad. Marner has 10 points, Matthews has four goals, Nylander has five goals and Tavares has seven points.
Different than last year, Nylander and Tavares are being asked to carry separate lines and it’s not clicking quite yet. Maybe that has something to do with it, but we’ve yet to see a game where the big boys take control and win a game, even if it’s a game they’re not supposed to win.
How This Group Can Improve
Matthews came close on Saturday as he tied the game on a tipped pass from Marner in the dying minute to force overtime in Boston. The Toronto Maple Leafs then lost the game on a Matthews pass to no one that inevitably ended up in the back of the net. The duo had five points combined on Saturday, but it didn’t really feel like it if you were watching.
As a whole, Matthews deserves to have a higher goal total than he has, and history tells us that the goals will start pouring in at some point. He is second in the NHL in shots with 42, and the amount of posts he’s hit is absurd. Still, we haven’t seen him take over a game full like we’ve seen numerous times over the last eight years.
“We’re creating a lot of opportunities, we’re just not finishing well enough,” Berube said after Saturday night’s loss. “We’ve created enough chances to win hockey games. The chances are there. We’re getting opportunities.” Berube added Matthews to the penalty kill with Marner this year and it’s worked wonders. That being said, the two superstars played almost 50 minutes, and in overtime, it looked like it. “I overused them,” Berube said.
“With the penalty kill and overtime, they got a little extended and that’s on me.” Berube’s systems are much different than what the Leafs have dealt with in the past, and it’s evident early in the season. “Learning a new system, sometimes old habits creep back in. We’ve got to limit those things. If we do that, we’re going to be in good shape.”
Second Line Looking For Spark On Monday
We have yet to see what lines look like during Monday’s practice, but if the line of Nylander, Domi, and McMann stays together, Berube will be looking for a massive improvement. With a combined zero points during the team’s three-game losing skid, the line has looked disjointed and lost for large portions of the last three games, and it starts with William Nylander.
“We’re talking to him, trying to help him out, and showing him things he can do better. Also, there is not much chemistry with his line right now,” Berube said of Nylander’s play. “I thought early on, he was creating a lot of opportunities, scored a couple of goals,” Berube said of Nylander’s start to the season. “But one, the powerplay is not scoring. He produces on the power play. Two, I think a little bit of frustration has set in with him as of right now, not getting enough clean looks.”
Final Thoughts
Monday’s starting goaltender has not been announced as of yet. With Joe Woll being back from injury, it is conceivable that he will get his second start in Winnipeg. However, Anthony Stolarz has had an exceptional start to the season, easily the best player for the Toronto Maple Leafs thus far, and deserves to continue to get the bulk of the starts. The Toronto Maple Leafs need a win and the Winnipeg Jets prove to be their toughest task.
The Jets are second in the NHL in goals per game with 4.5 and are second in goals against with two per game. On a positive note, Morgan Rielly scored a goal on Saturday in what was his 800th game in the NHL. Rielly is the longest-tenured player on the Toronto Maple Leafs and deserves praise for what he has done in Toronto.
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