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Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs 6-3 Loss to the Predators

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost last night 6-3 to the Nashville Predators. What were three takeaways from that game?

Erik Kallgren’s string of success was too good to last. One thing is sure: regardless of the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on the road, Kallgren came in when he was needed and delivered much better than anyone expected. Loss or no loss, it’s been a good week.

Kallgren let in five goals tonight and – finally – looked like a rookie. Auston Matthews returned to play his first game after completing his two-game suspension and scored his league-leading 46th goal of the season. Mitch Marner continued his hot scoring.

But, after that, the game look like it belonged to the Predators from the first period on. Every time the Maple Leafs responded, the Predators answered. In the end, they doubled the Maple Leafs’ total in goals.

In this edition of Maple Leafs’ takeaways, I’ll share what I believe are the three key takeaways from the game.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Line Combinations & Changes for Predators Game

Takeaway One: Erik Kallgren Is, After All, a Rookie

The Predators cut into Erik Kallgren’s psyche last night when they scored five goals on 33 shots in the 6-3 loss. Unlike his other games, the team didn’t stake Kallgren to any lead. He looked strong enough for the first period, but then slid toward increasingly ordinary for the remainder of the game. 

Kallgren was still steady in goal – not a lot of moving parts, but the Predators simply got pucks past him. He seemed to lose sight of pucks in close and his Maple Leafs’ teammates didn’t do the same stellar job clearing pucks from his crease.

Still, as I noted, Kallgren was going to lose a game sooner or later. Tonight was his first loss in a starting role. It took four games before he looked mortal, but that’s exactly what the 25-year-old Swedish goalie looked last night. 

Now the trick is to see how well he rebounds from a down game. I don’t know if the Maple Leafs’ coaching staff will choose to start him or not against the New Jersey Devils again on Wednesday; but, how Kallgren does in his next start will tell more about what this young goalie has in his tank.

Related: Maple Leafs Have Zeroed In on Mark Giordano From Kraken

Takeaway Two: This Mitch Marner Goal-Scoring “Thing” Might Be Here to Last

Mitch Marner scored two goals and added an assist in last night’s game. He got on the scoresheet in some way for every goal the Maple Leafs scored on the night. However, for as good an individual performance as he had, it didn’t push his team over the top. Sandwiched between his own two goals was Matthews’ goal. 

For the season, Marner has now scored 26 goals and added 42 assists (for 68 points) in 53 games. His 26 goals tie his career-best season when he scored 26 goals in 82 games. Could he get 40 goals on the season? It’s possible given the way he’s been playing.

After returning from his COVID-19 experience and his injury, Marner seems to have flipped a switch. Where he was once an assist machine, he’s now a legitimate threat to score goals. He’s looking to score rather than pass.

Takeaway Three: Every Time Ondrej Kase Goes Down, I Shudder

I admit that I love seeing the way Ondej Kase plays. He’s a buzzsaw. Tonight when he caught what look like an elbow – not on purpose – from Matt Duchene and ended up crawling off the ice, the accident made me realize just how difficult it might be to keep him in the lineup.

If Kase can’t play, he will be missed. He’s about as versatile as they come and he’s skilled. Prior to last night’s injury-shortened game, he had scored three goals in three games – one in each game. 

Ondrej Kase Boston Bruins
Ondrej Kase, when he played for the Boston Bruins

Kase was placed in the NHL’s concussion protocol after his head injury. Later in the game, the Maple Leafs announced that he would not return to the game for precautionary reasons. I hope that means that he might be ok, but the team’s medical staff was just waiting to see for sure.

Related: Five Reasons the Maple Leafs Should Play Erik Kallgren Until He Fails

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Unk

    March 20, 2022 at 11:39 am

    The more I see Tavares with Nylander the more I say, that line is missing something. An as such it is a waste of a big contract on the Leafs even with Tavares flirting at a point per game pace. Last night I felt that other than the first line, the rest of the team didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to hang with Nashville.

  2. Pingback: Maple Leafs Trade For Mark Giordano After Putting Mrazek on Waivers

  3. Pingback: Maple Leafs Trade For Mark Giordano After Putting Mrazek on Waivers – Hockey 1 on 1

  4. Owen Crisp

    March 21, 2022 at 7:47 am

    Agree that the Tavares money is a waste and even MORESO, at +/- of minus 11 and absolutely no interest in really playing, trade Nylander. He should have not been signed last minute and we would not be in this craphole!

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