Going into game 11 of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken had the same record: 5–4–1. The Maple Leafs came off of a relatively solid game against the red-hot Winnipeg Jets, who were 8–0 before facing the Maple Leafs. However, after going up 4–1, the Jets were able to muster up a comeback starting in the latter part of the second period to make the game a nail-biter to the end.
Despite the finish, there were several positives to the game: the new-look lines by Coach Craig Berube seemed to click, especially the second line of Max Pacioretty–John Tavares–William Nylander. More importantly, the entire team played the kind of hockey that we saw earlier in the season: hard forechecking, clogging the neutral zone, and giving the opposing players little time and space.
This is the kind of hockey the Maple Leafs would need to play if they want to be successful in the playoffs, but this is also the kind of hockey that can change the identity of this Maple Leafs team. Will this play continue? Let’s take a look at some of the key storylines going into the game against the Kraken.
The second line remains an inferno
In the last game against the Jets, Tavares had a hattrick, which was much needed to jump-start his game. Pacioretty had a monster game with three assists and looks to be a potential solution to the top six going forward. Nylander had one goal and two assists for three points as well. Overall, this line combined for nine points against the Jets.
Before the game against the Kraken, Nylander stated publicly that he wanted more ice time. The man did not disappoint. Nylander scored two goals, including this goal from the strong setup plays by Pacioretty and Tavares:
Tavares and Pacioretty continue to look rejuvenated after Tavares’ less-than-stellar play earlier in the season, and Pacioretty, who has already been scratched for three games this year. Pacioretty over the last two games looks like a force on the ice with laying the body and playing aggressively. The second line had a lot of offensive zone time this game, combining for five points on the night.
The second line has been impressive, but it’s careful to note that it is only two games. If they can continue this strong play for months, then perhaps Berube has found something.
The special teams dilemma
The Maple Leafs special teams this year have been off to a rough start. Going into the game, the power play ranked 29th with a mind-boggling 9.4%. With the firepower the Maple Leafs have, and a three-time Maurice Rocket Richard winner, it is perplexing to say the least.
The Maple Leafs went zero for two this game. Perhaps the only positive for the power play was the second power play, which started the second unit. The second unit had sustained pressure for close to a minute and noticeably attacked the net. The Maple Leafs have struggled to get sustained pressure on the power play and even struggle to enter the zone most power plays.
Going into the game against the Kraken, the penalty kill ranked 14th with 80.5%, which is still not where the Maple Leafs need to be if they are wanting to go deep in the playoffs this year. The penalty kill did a good job tonight, killing all three penalties.
But it was going back to how they played the game earlier in the season on the penalty kill that was noticeable: they didn’t allow the Kraken to enter the zone easily, pressured them to the point where they had difficulty in getting set up, and once quickly collecting the puck from the dump-in, it was one pass and out of the zone. No fancy or cute plays that resulted in giveaways.
Battle of the Matthews
Matthew Knies pushed his goal streak to three games with a goal in the dying seconds of the first period by a beautiful faceoff win by Auston Matthews:
Knies has six goals, one assist for seven points in 11 games. This puts him on pace for 52 points over an 82-game period, which would be a career-high. While this may be a low total for someone who plays with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner every night, Knies got off to a slow start to the year with only two points in the first five games.
Knies has noticeably been a force on the ice with and without the puck this year, using his strength and size to bully the opposing team night in and night out. As we discussed before, he is becoming the power forward that the Maple Leafs need.
It feels a bit weird calling out the three-time Maurice Richard winner for a lack of goal-scoring, but Matthews has noticeably not been himself offensively. Last season by game 11, Matthews had three hattricks, for 11 goals, four assists, for 15 points.
While he has five goals and five assists for nine points in 11 games this year, including this billiards-style empty net goal against the Kraken, he has not shown off his patented shot this year which has made him deadly in the offensive zone. That being said, it is only a matter of time before Matthews goes on a goal-scoring tear.
Robertson’s future remains uncertain
Nicholas Robertson has been in trade rumours since the off-season when he requested a trade. The Maple Leafs traded Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, leaving Robertson to be in the spotlight. More recently, Robertson was scratched against the Winnipeg Jets, which led to rampant trade rumours once again. Though, to Robertson’s credit, when asked about being scratched, he said:
“I’m not taking anything personal. It’s just part of the deal, and it’s my job to work hard.”
It’s not that Robertson has played badly per se; he’s been very noticeable in the offensive zone generating chances, and has played decent defensively. However, with just one goal for one point in nine games, that’s not good enough for a goal scorer. Robertson needed to have a statement game against the Kraken.
Unfortunately for Robertson, he remained pointless. Like in his previous games, he looked fairly decent, helping draw a penalty in the third period and generating a couple of offensive chances throughout the game.
However, time is running out for Robertson on this Leafs team. If he doesn’t score goals like he showed in his explosive preseason, then he could likely be shipped out while he still has value.
