Toronto Maple Leafs
Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs 4-2 Loss to Canadiens
Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 4-2. They should have won. Why did they lose?
It was a tie game right up to late in the third period. Then the Montreal Canadiens’ Paul Byron broke a 2-2 tie with 2:28 left in the game. The Canadiens went on to score and empty-netter. And, thanks to goalie Jake Allen, who made 49 saves, Montreal beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 last night.
In this edition of Maple Leafs’ takeaways, I’ll look at some of the events of the game and try to consider the implications going forward.
Related: Maple Leafs Rasmus Sandin Put on LTIR: Nuts, He’ll Be Missed
Takeaway One: William Nylander Demoted for Poor Play
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is obviously unhappy with the play of William Nylander. Although Nylander scored, he didn’t defend well enough. That lack of defensive effort pushed Keefe to push Nylander lower in the lineup. Obviously, coach Keefe was frustrated by the outcome of the game, but he focused his negative thoughts on the Swedish winger.
After the game, Keefe commented on Nylander’s missed play. The gist was that the Maple Leafs out shot the Canadiens 51-18, but lost 4-2. It was unacceptable.
As Keefe noted: “It’s tough. I mean, defensively, I don’t know if we can play much better than that. Just how we controlled play, how we controlled the neutral zone — not a lot happening. That’s a tough one to give up. But to me that was the third or fourth play like that for Will. And that’s why it was time [moving Nylander from the Tavares line]. Things have been piling up for that line for a while. So, it was overdue.”
What pushed Keefe to make the change was the fact that Nylander was beaten easily by Habs’ defenseman David Savard in the second period. Savard was able to get right in front of the net so he could score easily on a pass from Laurent Dauphin. Keefe then moved Nylander from the team’s second line with Tavares to a bottom-six role after that play.
Ilya Mikheyev jumped up to the second unit to replace Nylander. Look for that move to remain in play tonight against the Florida Panthers back home in Toronto. It’s too much of an important divisional game to leave to sloppy play.
Takeaway Two: Auston Matthews Tied His Career-Best in Goals
Auston Matthews scored his 47th goal just 36 seconds into last night’s game. It was at that time the NHL-leading goal. That goal also matched his career high from the 2019-20 season. The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl had a hat trick later last night to tie Matthews for the league lead.
Matthews’ goal against Allen got his team off to a great start. But it didn’t last. As noted before, Toronto worked hard to win last night. They fired 51 shots on the net, but they just couldn’t score. Then, a combination of errors and mediocre goalie play by their own goalie Erik Kallgren doomed them to defeat.
On the season, Matthews has now scored 47 goals added 34 assists (for 81 points) in 59 games. Both his point total of 81 and his goal total of 47 are career bests. His best season before 2021-22 was during 2019-20, when he had set both career marks.
Takeaway Three: Erik Kallgren Has Fallen to Earth
Erik Kallgren gave up three goals on only 17 shots in last night’s loss. It was far from a great performance. Because the Maple Leafs offense was on fire, Kallgren faced little pressure. However, he still let in three goals. His save percentage on the game was only .824.
What a fall from the heavens. Kallgren has only given up three goals in his first three games of the season. However, he has now been scored on eight times over his last two games. The 25-year-old goalie will watch his partner Petr Mrazek play against the Panthers tonight on Toronto’s home ice.
Related: How Much Will Maple Leafs’ Mark Giordano Play this Season?
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
13 Comments
Leave a Reply
More News
Roy Peters
March 27, 2022 at 9:51 am
The coach should of just sat Nylander instead of a line that was playing good now was missing a part, Nylander is not a defense first player. I don’t blame Kallgren he had no chance on 2 of the goals it was poor defense positioning that doomed Leafs again.
Old Prof
March 27, 2022 at 11:23 am
You know – Kallgren’s third goal was the only one he SHOULD have stopped – otherwise I agree.
Jon Harding
March 27, 2022 at 10:22 am
Old Prof – this team and trying to figure out why it’s deficient is going to be the end of me. Sure they had a lot of shots last night but isn’t it starting to become a recurring theme that goalies are standing in their heads against them? It can’t be that simple. If anyone out there wants to see an example of the thing I never see anyone on this team do, check out the replay of Flame defenceman Oliver Shillington’s goal last night against Edmonton. He gets the puck on a nice feed in front of the Edmonton net, has plenty of net to shoot at from about four feet out but absolutely drives the puck in as if he’s trying to break the mesh. The will and determination on that single play by one player was more than we see many nights from this entire Leafs team, although I am hesitant to lump Austin Matthews into the analogy as he’s shown pretty good and consistent jam of late.
Old Prof
March 27, 2022 at 11:25 am
Thanks for adding that insight – I did see the Shillington goal – it was a good one!
Marlene Genosko
March 27, 2022 at 10:52 am
Remember when Kyle Dubas was brought on as GM of the Leafs and during his press conference he said that his team will play all out offense and the defense will take care of itself. How is that working out for you Kyle? What an absolutely ridiculous statement to make. It is time for Mr, Shanahan to fire Dubas and bring in an experienced GM to take over.
Afp1961
March 27, 2022 at 11:04 am
Biggest takeaway has remained constant for the last 25 games.
No second line production. Lose out 5v5 almost every game with two so called starts being paid 18m. Not a Kerfoot fan as many know but the other two have to pick it up
Andrew
March 27, 2022 at 12:02 pm
I am not sure that Nylander should be blamed for the lack of production on the second line. Fingers should also be pointed at Travers. His performance last night and on too many other nights has been dismal. For sometime who is making 11M a year he is not delivering on his end of the deal. In a perfect world he should be sent down to the Marlies on a conditioning stint, or relegated to the forth line until he remembers why the Leafs overpaid him.
Pingback: Larkin Blasts Red Wings After Allowing 11 Goals vs Penguins
Pingback: Larkin Blasts Red Wings After Allowing 11 Goals vs Penguins – Hockey 1 on 1
Pingback: Larkin Blasts Red Wings After Allowing 11 Goals vs Penguins mejorsports.com – The Best Sports News in the World of Sports | mejorsports.com
Pingback: Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs 5-2 Win Over the Panthers
Pingback: Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs 5-2 Win Over the Panthers – Hockey 1 on 1
Pingback: Maple Leafs’ Player Changes and Moves for Bruins’ Game & Beyond mejorsports.com – The Best Sports News in the World of Sports | mejorsports.com