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Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Goal Is to Squeeze the Life Out of Opponents

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a good start to the season, but the team is not yet as dominant as it things it should be. What’s the goal?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting on top of the North Division standings, but there’s always room for improvement. 

Related: Maple Leafs Loan Robertson, Two Others to Marlies of the AHL

In the video below, Chris Johnston and Shawn McKenzie discuss the Maple Leafs’ season thus far, As they note, although the team is sitting on top their division’s standings; and, although their closest rival – both in terms of history and in position in this season’s standings – the Montreal Canadiens have hit a bump in the road, that doesn’t mean the Canadiens should be ignored.

The Montreal Canadiens Showed that They Can’t Be Taken Lightly

In fact, during Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada, the Canadiens showed the Maple Leafs that they could be dominated for two periods and still come roaring back to win a game. 

The Maple Leafs Lost a Game They Had Dominated

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs lost tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, they’re still the top team in the North Division. As hockey insider Chris Johnson notes, there’s no denying the stats. The truth is that the Maple Leafs have started the season well and have had a lot of success early.

The Sense Chris Johnston Gets From the Maple Leafs About Their Season

However, when Johnston spoke with the Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe, Keefe believed that some of the players had a sense that they had a lot more to give. They were where they expected to be – leading the North Division – but they’re of the mindset that they really wanted to be dominant this season. Instead, they’ve been a number of games where they have been dominant “enough.” 

Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

By “enough,” when the team came to the third period of several games this season and they needed a goal, they usually got one. Although that’s positive, as the game against the Canadiens Saturday night has shown, that kind of good fortune cannot always be counted on. 

Where the Maple Leafs Need to Improve to Become Dominant

What the Maple Leafs haven’t done this season is to “squeeze the life out of all the teams they are playing.” That’s ultimately what they’re trying to do; and, toward that end there’s definitely room for improvement. 

Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs

Since the team returned from their western Canadian road trip, the team had some days off to work on some things they needed to. The result has been positive. However, the benchmark in Toronto is pretty high and the team hasn’t quite reached it yet.

Related: Mitch Marner Says Maple Leafs Are Ready for Anything – Is It Swagger?

This Maple Leafs’ Team Is Good But Is It Good Enough?

The jury remains out on how good this team is. There’s a sense of confidence that hasn’t been seen in a long time surrounding the Maple Leafs. Still, the season is long and the team could be caught. Are they dominant enough?

Maple Leafs’ fans will soon see.

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