They’ve weathered loads of accidents, energy play droughts, particular person slumps, and a basic dip in even-strength offence whereas nonetheless establishing themselves as a defensive pressure and one of many premier golf equipment of their division.
And but, anybody watching November’s hottest crew navigate its approach by a busy December will let you know that their recreation has slipped a notch.
Not so considerably that the decline can be noticeable towards a non-contender like Detroit or Buffalo or Chicago.
However when a authentic opponent just like the Washington Capitals rolls into city and beats the Maple Leafs, 5-2, on their very own pad for the second time in a month, it serves as a pointy reminder that Toronto might want to find one other stage.
“ it from a little bit little bit of a much bigger image, I feel we acquired a little bit bit extra (to present). We acquired to be extra constant. I feel that’s possibly why we’re a little bit bit on the improper facet of it right here during the last possibly 4 or 5 video games,,” ex-captain–slash–substitute captain John Tavares mentioned, following Saturday’s defeat.
“Our execution could be a little bit higher, and our tempo can simply be a little bit bit higher.”
Added William Nylander: “We’ve got some lapses typically that we will’t have. The vast majority of the sport, we’re taking part in good.”
The Maple Leafs jumped to an early lead and generated sufficient probabilities to swing the scoreboard of their favour. However Washington’s effort was extra regular, its O-zone time extra sustained, and its goaltender superior.
Leafs coach Craig Berube notes that the Capitals “look” the best way a crew ought to: “They play a great model of hockey. It’s very direct.”
Toronto was undone by a locked-in Thompson, who annoyed Nylander to the purpose of stick-breaking, stoned Pontus Holmberg on a breakaway, and gloved down Mitch Marner on a clear rush as a part of his 35-save star flip.
“You simply wish to attempt to match him save for save,” Toronto’s Matt Murray mentioned. “However he performed a hell of a recreation tonight. He made a few loopy saves, a pair that you just thought had been positive targets, and he was capable of pull ’em off the road.”
However Toronto was additionally hindered by an absence of offensive execution (29 of the Leafs’ pictures had been both blocked or blown vast of Thompson’s cage) and a penalty kill that didn’t deal with enterprise on Washington’s lone energy play.
Costliest, nevertheless, had been some horrendous zone exits.
A Connor Dewar turnover instantly led to an Andrew Mangiapane rush strike that erased the house facet’s early lead earlier than it was two minutes previous.
And a foul line change mixed with extra botched zone clears to assist arrange Nic Dowd’s winner.
Credit score the Capitals, although, as a result of they’re the kind of crew that may run all the best way house in your errors. (Translation: the kind of crew that makes the playoffs.)
And, if you happen to’re feeling beneficiant, reduce Murray some slack.
The third-string goaltender was beginning simply his second NHL recreation in effectively over 600 days and remains to be adjusting to the big-league threats.
“There’s possibly, like, one or two instances a recreation the place I really feel like I’m just a bit bit late choosing up pucks by site visitors. That kind of factor that occurred a pair instances on the market tonight,” Murray admitted.
“They performed exhausting. Made it exhausting on me and acquired to the paint. And plenty of site visitors, numerous probabilities off the push. They play a extremely robust recreation.”
Berube’s ideas on his personal goalie: “I’m positive he desires a pair again. However he hasn’t performed a ton of hockey. I imply, he battled. He fought.”
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Simply because the Maple Leafs might want to battle, to combat a little bit more durable if they’re to return out on the fitting facet of extra of those actual checks towards actual opponents.
Tavares is aware of this already.
“Goalies are going to play effectively. They’re gonna have a sizzling hand. You tip your cap to that,” Tavares mentioned.
“However we wish to have the ability to discover a strategy to break by and do what we have to do to earn the consequence that we want.”
• When warmups go improper…
• Your every day AM34-1-1: Auston Matthews (higher physique) has been skating for a pair days now, however no return date has been set.
“Making actual good progress, which is nice. He’s feeling lots higher,” Berube says.
In different harm information, Staff Finland defenceman Jani Hakanpää has additionally returned to the ice following his newest knee process.
“He’s a methods away but,” Berube cautions.
• Jakob Chychrun: 10 targets.
Whole Maple Leafs defence: seven targets (and none in December, thus far).
• Mississauga, Ont., native Dylan Strome dipped exhausting in 2020-21, failing to achieve 10 targets and topping off at simply 17 factors.
Since then, his manufacturing has elevated each season: 48 factors in 2021-22, 65 in 2022-23, and 67 in 2023-24.
This season, Washington’s No.1 centreman is on observe for 91 factors.
“An ultra-competitive man,” Carbery says.
“That is the third 12 months in a row the place he’s trending to be a greater participant than he was the 12 months earlier than. You see that at instances, nevertheless it’s fairly uncommon [at age 27].”
• So… Staff Canada didn’t need Thompson, eh?
