Maple Leafs Line Changes Could Solve Two Problems

Sometimes a coach changes his forward lines because something isn’t working. Other times, he’s just looking for a little spark. I suspect Toronto Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller is hoping for both as his team prepares to face the Buffalo Sabres.

The Maple Leafs have been scoring goals. That’s not the problem. They’ve put up 18 goals over their last four games. The trouble is that they’ve also allowed 16. Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Utah, after Toronto fell behind and tried to claw its way back, reminded everyone that scoring your way out of trouble isn’t a great long-term plan. So, Hiller is shuffling the deck.

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Matthews and Nylander Are Back Together

The headline is Auston Matthews and William Nylander playing together again. That’s an intriguing combination, and it makes plenty of sense. Both players have the skill to create something out of very little. Nylander brings speed and puck control, while Matthews can finish chances as well as anyone. Put them together, and the Maple Leafs have a good chance of generating offence.

It’s not an entirely new idea, either. Hiller has used Nylander alongside Matthews during games this season. Perhaps the coach believes the two can lift Toronto’s attack when it needs it. The trick is making sure the rest of the lineup doesn’t suffer.

The Other Maple Leafs Lines Matter, Too

The projected combinations in the image also feature Nick Paul, John Tavares and Kirill Marchenko on the second line, with Colton Sissons, Gavin McKenna and Easton Cowan on the third. That’s quite a shuffle. It gives Hiller a chance to see which players work well together and whether he can spread the offence around rather than relying on Matthews and Nylander to do all the heavy lifting.

Of course, morning-skate combinations aren’t necessarily what we’ll see for the entire game. Coaches experiment, players move around, and sometimes a line lasts about as long as a cup of coffee. I like the idea of a third line with a defensive-minded veteran and two of the Maple Leafs’ most promising young players. There’s a purpose behind trying something different.

The Maple Leafs to Focus Both on Offence and Defence

I don’t think Toronto needs to reinvent itself. It needs to play smarter hockey. With Chris Tanev out, the defensive workload is already a concern. The forwards have to track back, limit turnovers and help their defencemen instead of leaving them to deal with every problem.

Putting Matthews and Nylander together might provide an offensive spark. But the real test is whether the new combinations help the Maple Leafs play a more connected game. For them, the best defence could be keeping the puck in the other team’s end.

Goals are nice. Two points are better. And a little less chaos in their own end wouldn’t hurt, either.

Related: Canadiens’ Surprising Line Is Outperforming Hockey’s Best