Three Maple Leafs Takeaways from 4-3 Loss to Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens’ Josh Anderson scored on a Toronto Maple Leafs’ giveaway (what looked like a panicky clearing pass) with 19 seconds left to give the Canadiens a 4-3 home-ice win over the Maple Leafs last night. It was not the way it was supposed to be – for either team actually. 

Good news for the home team, but bad news for the traveling Maple Leafs who head home tonight for another game against the Washington Capitals on Toronto’s home ice. I’m sure Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe will expect more from his troops.

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Takeaway One: The Maple Leafs Looked Less Experienced than the Canadiens

It seemed as if the roles of both teams were reversed. The experienced Maple Leafs looked panicked while the Canadiens were ready to take advantage of Maple Leafs’ errors. It was a sloppy game for the Maple Leafs and not at all befitting of a team who’s planning to hit the postseason. 

As Keefe noted after the game, it wasn’t expected and it was “unacceptable.” His team simply looked nervous with the puck and unaware of the circumstances in which they were playing. They could have frozen the puck and waited for overtime. They didn’t and it cost them.

From my perspective watching the game, the Maple Leafs played hard enough. They just were really careless with the puck. One thing is for sure, the Canadiens will use this game as a confidence booster.

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Takeaway Two: Matt Murray Made Some Errors, But He Deserved Better

Matt Murray’s performance during the first period seemed calm and in control. But then he got beat at least three times over his shoulder, and at least one of those goals he’ll want back. The result is that Murray dropped his first regular-season start for his new team. 

As noted above, Murray yielded the game-winning goal with only 19 seconds left to play. He had had a strong preseason, but that didn’t last into the regular season.

As his coach noted after the game, “I thought our guys left him out to dry.”

Keefe also noted that both Cole Caufield and Anderson were dangerous off the transition, and his team gave them lots of transitions. It’s hard to say what this means in the long-term. We’ll see how both the Maple Leafs and Murray respond.

Takeaway Three: John Tavares Played Well and Looks Healed 

In some good news for the Maple Leafs, their captain John Tavares played well and looks as if his oblique injury is healed. Tavares registered two assists last night in his team’s 4-3 loss. 

Tavares was centering a line with regular partner William Nylander and newcomer Denis Malgin. He had an assist on goals that both his linemates scored. In fact, although the Maple Leafs’ first line didn’t play poorly on offense, the second line seemed to be more effective.

Nylander’s goal was typically Nylander, coming quickly and tying the game close to the end of the third period. Malign’s goal was a solid goal by the Swiss forward, who stopped in front of Jake Allen’s net and waited for the puck to bounce around and come to him. It did and he used his quick hands to bat it into the back of the net.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Fourth Line Is Key to Team’s Final Success