Dec 14, 2016
Losing late haunts Maple Leafs again
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ third period woes came back to haunt them again on Tuesday. Leading the San Jose Sharks 2-0 late in the third period, the Maple Leafs gave up two quick scores and ultimately fell 3-2 in the shootout for their fifth loss in six games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ third period woes came back to haunt them again on Tuesday. Leading the San Jose Sharks 2-0 late in the third period, the Maple Leafs gave up two quick scores and ultimately fell 3-2 in the shootout for their fifth loss in six games.
Takeaways
Same Old Story: Third period leads haven’t been easy for the Maple Leafs to hold onto all season, and Tuesday was no exception. Trailing 2-0, San Jose scored two goals in 2:07 within the final eight minutes of the third to force overtime. It was the sixth game this season where Toronto has lost a game where they had at least a one-goal advantage in the final frame, and the fourth time they have blown a multi-goal lead. Toronto also has yet to win in a shootout, with four failed attempts. The defeat ties them with the Buffalo Sabres for last in the Atlantic Division and looking at how tight the standings are above them, the lost points loom large.
Discipline, Discipline: The Maple Leafs took seven penalties on Tuesday, two for boarding. The penalty to Nazem Kadri for goaltender interference in the second negated a goal from Morgan Rielly and sent him to the box. The play was unsuccessfully challenged by Mike Babcock, and Kadri said after he was “shocked” the call went the way it did but admitted discipline was an issue. Matt Hunwick’s penalty in the third, for interference, ultimately proved most costly – on their final power play attempt, the Sharks scored four seconds in to tie the game. Toronto’s penalty kill, which had gone six straight games without giving up a goal prior to Sunday’s contest, has now given up three in two games.
Rookie Showcase: With eight rookies now on Toronto’s roster, it’s impossible to ignore their youth. The Sharks may have felt the same as the forwards made an impression early and often. Of the team’s six points, five went to its all-rookie line - Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman each tallied a goal and an assist and William Nylander added two helpers. Hyman earned the praise of his teammates and coaches for taking a howitzer from Brent Burns off the leg that sent him to the dressing room in the first period. But he returned without missing a shift and redirected a Matthews shot to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead. Hyman now has a point in six of his last nine games, while Matthews leads the team in goals (13) and points (22).
Best Face Forward: Toronto dominated the faceoff circle against San Jose, winning 62 per cent of the draws. Tyler Bozak was nearly perfect, winning 14 of 16, with Matthews (9 of 13) and Nazem Kadri (10 of 18) also above 50 per cent. Possession numbers were evenly split between the teams, but the face off dot has been a point of emphasis for the team after getting outworked there recently. Despite the parity in the stats, Frederik Andersen faced 42 shots on net, the most since Nov. 12 in Pittsburgh.
Next Game: Toronto will see a familiar face when the Arizona Coyotes come to town on Thursday – it will be Peter Holland’s return to face the team that traded him less than a week earlier. Holland tallied two assists in his debut with Arizona on Tuesday.