The Maple Leafs Found a Way to Win. Can They Keep It Going?

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t play a perfect game against the San Jose Sharks on Monday, but they did the job. Their power play came through, the penalty kill did its part, and Sergei Bobrovsky made the saves when the team needed him. Sometimes, that’s what it takes to get yourself back on track.

The 3-1 win snapped Toronto’s three-game losing streak, and a few things were worth taking away. The Maple Leafs scored twice on five power-play chances, killed all four San Jose penalties, and Bobrovsky made 30 saves. That’s a pretty good night’s work, especially for a team that hasn’t had the easiest start to the season.

It also raises a fair question. Can the Maple Leafs win games this way while they work on the other parts of their game?

Special Teams Are Giving Toronto Something to Build On

Let’s start with the penalty kill. After shutting down all four San Jose power plays, Toronto had killed 31 of 32 penalties, according to the figures in the notes. That’s a terrific start, and it suggests penalty-kill coach John Gruden and his players are doing something right.

Head coach Jim Hiller thought Monday was probably the team’s best penalty-kill performance. He praised the plan and the way the players carried it out, while also pointing out that, sooner or later, a breakdown happens and the goalie has to make a save. That’s hockey. You can have a good system, and the players can do what they’re supposed to do, but things still go wrong sometimes. The trick is to limit those mistakes and have somebody there to clean them up.

The power play did its share, too. Auston Matthews tied the game late in the second period, and Gavin McKenna put Toronto ahead in the third. Those were big goals, and they showed why special teams can make such a difference in a tight game.

Bobrovsky Gives the Maple Leafs a Chance

Of course, special teams won’t win every game. Toronto still needs to be more consistent at even strength, particularly when defensive mistakes leave its goaltender with extra work. That’s where Bobrovsky came in. He stopped 30 of 31 shots and made some important saves in the third period as San Jose tried to get back into the game. The Maple Leafs weren’t perfect in front of him, but he gave them a chance to win.

Hiller called it a gutsy victory. The team probably would have preferred a more comfortable finish, but a win is a win, especially after three straight losses.

The thing is, NHL teams don’t always play well for 60 minutes. Sometimes the passes don’t connect, the defence gets caught out of position, or the other team pushes. When that happens, a good penalty kill, a timely power-play goal, and a goalie who can settle things down can make all the difference.

Things Came Together for the Maple Leafs Last Night

The Maple Leafs have those pieces working for them right now. Their next job is to raise the rest of their game to the same standard.

One win doesn’t mean everything is fixed. But if Toronto can keep getting this kind of special-teams play and give Bobrovsky a little more help at even strength, Monday’s win might be something to build on rather than just a welcome break from losing.

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