Toronto Maple Leafs

Four Takeaways from Maple Leafs’ 4-2 Loss to Coyotes

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Arizona Coyotes on home ice by a score of 4-2. What were the takeaways from the game?

by
Old Prof
October 17, 2022

In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs’ Takeaways, I’ll look at what I think are the key plays of the game from the Maple Leafs’ perspective.

Takeaway One: Good Finish Can’t Cover Bad Maple Leafs’ Start

No matter how quickly you finish, if you get behind right at the beginning it’s very hard to catch up. It looked as if the Maple Leafs were in charge of the game, but they simply couldn’t get a shot on the net. One interesting fact is that Karel Vejmelka made 26 saves for the Coyotes.

Given the way the Maple Leafs’ dominated the zone time, he should have had to make twice that number of saves. That’s how poorly they were shooting.

The fact that the Maple Leafs simply couldn’t get the puck on the net was the game. I have no idea what the team was doing on the power play, but it took more than four power plays to even register a shot on the goal. Control the play? Yes. Get a shot on goal, not so easy last night.

Vejmelka was a hot goalie, which is what I expected if you read my post last night. However, because the Maple Leafs simply didn’t get many shots on the net, he didn’t have to work too hard to make stops. Not until the end of the game at least.

Takeaway Two: Hockey Is a Crazy Game, and a Crazy Play Cost the Maple Leafs the Game

Finally, the Maple Leafs scored. It seemed the difference was that the Maple Leafs kept it simple and continued with the pressure. They came roaring back. However, it was a combination of too little and too late and a waved-off goal that was the reason the Maple Leafs took the loss.

In fact, with the Maple Leafs putting pressure on the Coyotes, it was almost enough. However, as fine a game as hockey is because everything happens at breakneck speed, it’s also a bit ironic. A move that a player (Morgan Rielly) made that took only a split-second to occur took five minutes of referee’s conferencing with video crews at a distance to decide that a goal that had taken place should no longer count.

Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs (2013-14 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection – Ice Premiere Auto Patches)

That waved-off goal was likely the difference. I have no idea whether the goal should’ve been waived off or not, and I don’t know the rules well enough to make a case either way. But the call could’ve gone either way, and it didn’t go the Maple Leafs’ way last night.

That said, the Maple Leafs put themselves into a deep hole and couldn’t pull out no matter how hard they tried. My question is, where was all that desperation during the first 50 minutes of the game?

Takeaway Three: John Tavares Has Not Slowed Down

This seems to be about the fourth game in a row that I’ve suggested that John Tavares, despite the critique he’s taken from fans about being old, and slow, and that his game is declining, has played a really strong game. Last night, he showed up and worked hard.

But that should no longer be a surprise to fans. He’s been doing it now four games in a row. He’s been successful. Tonight he seemed to be in the middle of the action all night long. If he continues to play this way, he will have one of the best seasons of his career.

By the way, Tavares’ two assists helped him reach the 900-point mark for his career.

Takeaway Four: William Nylander Just Seems to Have a Knack

I’m sure there are some Maple Leafs’ hockey fans who still think William Nylander is soft. I’m not seeing it. He wasn’t supposed to play tonight because he was ill. Not only did he play, but he was Willie on the spot in scoring the first Maple Leafs’ goal. Finally, someone got the team on the score sheet.

For my money, Nylander and Tavares have been the two best Maple Leafs on the ice thus far this season.