Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs’ 5-3 Win Over the Capitals

The upside is that the Toronto Maple Leafs beat a tough Washington Capitals team and have now won three games in a row. For Maple Leafs’ fans, the downside is that the game was not the kind of game they hoped the team would play – a boring, defensively-tight, low-event game with steady goaltending. 

Funny, although I know many Maple Leafs’ fans watched this game and wrung their hands simultaneously, the game was good according to Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe. He had a lot of positive comments about his team and the game they played. 

Perhaps, even if you’re a Maple Leafs’ fan with a different perspective than the head coach, you might just want to accept the win and shuffle off to Buffalo to get on with the next game, which will be on Wednesday night against the Sabres. 

The fact is that the Maple Leafs are playoff-bound; and, although the team isn’t inspiring confidence throughout the whole of the fanbase, imagine the team they beat. Are we as fans being a bit too picky? Might it be best to go one game at a time as the postseason approaches?

Then, it’s every team for itself.

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

Related: Maple Leafs Might Be Looking Into Marc-Andre Fleury Trade

Takeaway One: So, Did Petr Mrazek Struggle in Goal or Not?

In reading one game review, the writer wrote as if Petr Mrazek struggled in goal throughout the game. Specifically, the writer reported that: “The Maple Leafs have won three in a row, though this was another one that won’t go on the highlight reel. Coming off a 10-7 victory at Detroit, Toronto outscored some more shaky play by goaltender Petr Mrazek, who had plenty of adventures in net while allowing three goals on 33 shots.”

But that’s not the way – as I noted above – coach Keefe saw the game. When Keefe was asked about Mrazek’s game, he noted that he “thought he (Mrazek) was really good. …  I thought he was full marks for the win tonight.”

Specifically, Keefe noted that “There are still some dangerous shooters out there. On their power play, I thought he was really good. He made a couple of big saves on some one-timers — not just Ovechkin but some other guys.”

The point is that the Capitals are, like the Maple Leafs, a playoff-bound team. They have Alex Ovechkin on their side, and he’s kinda good. The fact is that it was a win for the Blue and White. Mrazek now has a 9-4-0 record, a goals-against-average of 3.07, and a save percentage of .895 on the season. He’s won three games in a row. 

Takeaway Two: John Tavares Isn’t Scoring, But He’s Playing Good Hockey

It wasn’t hard to notice John Tavares during last night’s game. He was frustrated and physical. He also made a beautiful pass for the secondary assist on Rasmus Sandin’s game-winning goal. That kind of play is the reason secondary assists are counted in the statistics. 

When the scoresheet is read, it will show that Tavares registered two assists in the 5-3 win over the Capitals. He had the primary assist on William Nylander’s go-ahead goal (2-1) late in the first period; and, as noted, the secondary assist on Sandin’s game-winner (4-3). 

The 31-year-old Tavares hasn’t scored a goal in 13 games and sits with 17 goals and 33 assists (for 50 points) in 52 games. Still, he’s just below a point-a-game pace.

Takeaway Three: Short Thoughts About Other Players

First, I hope the Maple Leafs re-sign Ilya Mikheyev. He’s so fast on the ice and contributes in a myriad of ways. He consistently seems to be breaking in alone on the net. 

Second, Pierre Engvall is similarly fast. On the last goal of the game, he simply pulled away from the Capitals’ defender to score into an empty net. He, too, contributes in a lot of different ways. It’s good to see Keefe come to depend upon players who are not in the top-six. This is a deep team.

Third, does Michael Bunting complement Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the first line, or not? He scored his 19th goal on the season and is one ahead of Tanner Jeannot in rookie goal-scoring. He’s also just a single point behind Lucas Raymone, who leads rookies with 42 points.

HOLLSY!! ⭐️#LeafsForever | @Molson_Canadian pic.twitter.com/C9tTnQvP8r

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 1, 2022

Fourth, Justin Holl has been playing strong hockey since his return from being a healthy scratch. Last night he scored a goal and added an assist and was a plus-2. His hard work in front of the net with only seconds left in the first period put his team up 3-1. It was a smart play, only made possible because he knew the Capitals could not score with the time left so he swarmed the net.

Related: 18 Odd Facts from a Game for the Ages: Maple Leafs Beat Red Wings 10-7