It was over a week ago where fans and even the Toronto Maple Leafs were disappointed with their stretch of play after a loss to the Ottawa Senators. After going 1-4-1 during that stretch, the frustration was definitely showing, and captain Auston Matthews was the first to give a blunt assessment of this team as they need to “get it through our heads”.
Head coach Craig Berube echoed that his team was lacking urgency and showing the importance of playing a gritty style of play that is required to win, especially in the postseason. The Maple Leafs responded and looked to have found themselves with their play a week later, going 3-1 during that stretch where their urgency and intensity were much better.
However, that one loss, a 5-2 breakdown to the 30th-ranked Nashville Predators showed that this team still has a lot to learn about playing with consistency and urgency. It was a problem previously amidst a tough stretch as their defensive play was subpar, and it was evident during that loss as the mistakes were critical and intensity was lacking for the whole game.
Leafs Need Message to Sink In
It’s clear that even with the deadline acquisitions, the Maple Leafs weren’t previously playing at a playoff level. There were a number of lackluster efforts, a lack of execution in all three zones and disappointing results where they didn’t have that intensity and desperation that other teams fighting for a playoff spot showed.
The games against the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers proved that they’re able to play at a high level. But when you’re unable to put dominating efforts against teams that are completely out of it, it’s disappointing, and it overshadows the results that came previously.
The Maple Leafs had a chance to overtake the Atlantic Division lead after the Florida Panthers loss and gain separation from the Tampa Bay Lightning. They had a dominant 2-0 start in their game but squandered it. Forty minutes and five unanswered goals later, that was as bad as it could get for the Maple Leafs as they had no answer, which is inexcusable with the start they had, just like in previous games against the Utah Hockey Club, Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. Against the Predators, the Maple Leafs were lifeless, sat back and the miscues and breakdowns from the previous week crept back in. It was another opportunity lost to assert themselves as a team and move up in the standings.
Related: Auston Matthews’ Leadership on Full Display for Maple Leafs
Going back to Matthews’ comments about the team trying to figure things out, when they’re getting outplayed, had nothing going for them or taking their foot off the gas for the rest of the game, he’s right. It’s on them to find their game. However, this isn’t the first time where the players have said they need to be better. This isn’t a young team anymore. How many times are they going to say this and not learn their lesson? It’s not an excuse anymore.
The team previously held a meeting to discuss their play weeks back. While this was one game after they dominated and showed that they can play a complete shutdown game and not give their opponents much to work with, a loss to a weak team just doesn’t cut it. They can’t keep saying they need urgency and need to play desperate when they should know that is the standard for this league. That message needs to sink in because if they haven’t figured it out by now, nine seasons into this tenure of the core, it feels like they never will.
Maple Leafs Can’t Lose Focus
Once again, the main focus post-game was the mindset of the Maple Leafs. John Tavares said they need to be “pissed off” about the result after what they overcame and finding their game, but poor finish for the week. Why they can’t have that mindset consistently is something that is making a lot of fans uneasy about what to expect when the playoffs roll around.
Berube said that the team “didn’t fight for it” when it came to the Predators’ response, which is something that has been an issue all season where they don’t have that fight consistently throughout the game. The response needs to be there, and when things seem to go awry, the lack of pushback is evident and that’s a problem. Tavares has pushed this team before, but it’s on them to do it on a consistent basis. After a mini winning streak, they went cold again, which can’t happen.
While they got the wins and a strong record last week, some of the numbers are concerning. They have allowed two high-danger goals, but they’ve also allowed five goals from medium to lower-danger areas, which isn’t ideal. In addition, they’ve allowed the most shots against (97) and scoring chances against (90).
Earlier in the week, they were winning battles, intense, opportunistic with their chances and matched the pace against their opponent. The power play is clicking (40.7% for the month), which is great to finally see, but their penalty kill has been abysmal. In the month of March, they’re at 69%, which isn’t a good recipe when it comes to the postseason. While they’re getting offense, they continue to give up a lot of shots and chances, and despite the improved defensive play, they’re relying too much on that as they can’t lose their focus on what made them successful during this past week.
Related: Maple Leafs’ John Tavares Reaches 1,100 Career Points
The Maple Leafs really need to find that balance of offense and defense and get back to what made them successful at certain points during the season. Playing with a pissed-off mindset isn’t a bad thing and doing that consistently shows that they mean business and aren’t going to be walked all over.
This team can get fragile easily, and it’s been a constant problem over the years where they’re their own worst enemy. That has to change and fast as the playoffs approach.
You can’t afford these kinds of mistakes in the postseason. They definitely know it, but they need to show it.
Statistics from Natural Stat Trick and NHL.
