Dec 19, 2016
Ducks' PP the difference over Leafs
Playing the final opponent in their five-game homestand, the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to end on a high note, but a late goal by the Anaheim Ducks downed the Maple Leafs 3-2. They had their moments to shut down the Ducks, but too many penalties and continued face off struggles ultimately worked in Anaheim's favour.
Playing the final opponent in their five-game homestand, the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to end on a high note, but a late goal by the Anaheim Ducks downed the Maple Leafs 3-2. They had their moments to shut down the Ducks, but too many penalties and continued face off struggles ultimately worked in Anaheim's favour. Toronto moves to 12-12-7 on the season.
Takeaways
Learning to fly (on the fly): Toronto ended up dressing eight rookies for Monday’s game, with Ben Smith and Tyler Bozak both missing due to injury. The ensuing lineup shuffling put William Nylander in Bozak’s place between James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner and call-up Frederik Gauthier between Matt Martin and Josh Leivo. The results were uneven, with Nylander’s line posting 50 per cent or below in Corsi-for. Toronto could have been in an early hole if not for Frederik Andersen making timely saves against his former team early. When it counted though, Anaheim used its veteran sensibilities (and good goaltending from John Gibson) to take advantage of the Maple Leafs' 18 giveaways and discipline issues.
Only hurting themselves: Before the end of the first period, the Maple Leafs had already giving up three power plays to the second-best unit in the league. With one of their best penalty killers – Smith – out of the lineup, it was fortunate they escaped the period in a scoreless tie. But the Maple Leafs continued to give to the Ducks. Ryan Getzlaf capitalized with a power play goal to tie the game in the second period. Late in the third, tied 2-2, Zach Hyman took a costly retaliatory penalty against Josh Mason; Anaheim needed three seconds of power play time for Cam Fowler to score what stood up as the game winner. It’s not the first time recently where discipline has cost the Maple Leafs, and it’s a pattern they can’t afford to continue.
Red-hot rookie: Auston Matthews was already leading the Maple Leafs in goals (14) and points (23, tied with Mitch Marner) going into Monday’s game. He got Toronto on the board first with what may have been the most unlikely goal of his young career. Matthews pulled off a one-handed re-direction of Nikita Zaitsev’s point shot that fooled Gibson midway through the second period. It was the rookie’s third goal in his last four games and fourth point of that stretch.
Face-off frustrations: Toronto acknowledged before the game how excellent Anaheim is in the faceoff dot, and they ended up getting manhandled. The Maple Leafs won just 33 per cent of their draws, with Gauthier leading the way at a team-high 41 per cent. But it was Gauthier who lost the draw that ultimately cost the Maple Leafs the game. Ryan Kesler beat him cleanly in the defensive zone, and set up Fowler's snipe. In their own zone, the Ducks had Antoine Vermette holding down the dot – the first draw he lost in that area was in the game’s final minutes, to Gauthier. Kesler and Vermette combined for 35 faceoff wins to only 11 losses.
Next game: After an extended stay at Air Canada Centre, the Maple Leafs will hit the road again to face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. The last meeting between these teams is still fresh for Toronto – they lost 3-1 on Dec. 11 despite putting 52 shots on Semyon Varlamov.