Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs 5-4 Loss to the Canucks

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Vancouver Canucks for the second time this season. This time the Canucks won the game 6-4 and their’ goalie Thatcher Demko didn’t have to stop 51 shots like he did the time before. However, Demko was the difference between the win and the loss. He was that much better than Maple Leafs’ goalie Jack Campbell. 

In the end, the Maple Leafs were all over Demko with about four minutes left in the game but he stood tall and frustrated the Maple Leafs’ shooters time after time. Another tough loss for the Blue and White.

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

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Takeaway Number One: Don’t Blame Auston Matthews for This Loss

Auston Matthews could not have done much more than he did to help his team win this game, but he couldn’t stop the pucks from going into his own net. That was the difference. But he did score two more goals on the season to once again take over the NHL’s goal-scoring leadership.

Both Matthews’ goals came during the second period. The second one put the Maple Leafs ahead 4-3 in the game, but they couldn’t keep the lead. That’s Demko’s fault. It didn’t take long in the third period before the Maple Leafs lost their 4-3 lead to trail 5-4. 

On the season, the amazing Matthews now has scored 39 goals and 31 assists (for 70 points) in the 52 games he’s played. He’d been quiet on the scoresheet for two games but you can’t keep him down for long. 

Takeaway Number Two: Jack Campbell Gave Up Another Five Goals on the Night

It’s getting redundant. Tonight Jack Campbell gave up five goals on only 28 shots in the loss to the Canucks. It just seemed shot after shot trickled through him into the back of the net. I had hoped that the Maple Leafs’ second-period comeback would have lifted him and he could have held the team in the game. Not tonight. He’s in trouble in the net and looks everything but comfortable.

I have no idea what the team feels, but after fighting so hard to come back and take a 4-3 lead, there has to be a tendency to be a bit deflated when your goalie lets in so many goals. Campbell is sliding into a hole and it seems that getting out might be difficult.

In his most recent four starts, the 30-year-old Campbell has now given up five goals in three of them. The team can’t win unless he gets better and quickly.

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Takeaway Number Three: Congratulations to Wayne Simmonds

Congratulations to Wayne Simmonds who played in his 1,000th NHL game tonight. Simmonds has had quite a great NHL career. He’s played with six NHL teams since he first laced on his skates in 2008-09 with the Los Angeles Kings. Earlier in his career, he’s scored 30 goals two times and 60 points twice as well. In his day, he was one of the NHL’s great power-forwards. 

Wayne Simmonds with his family moments before his 1000th NHL game 💙🤍

📸: @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/iHLs17I73X

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) March 6, 2022

During his career, he’s scored 262 goals and 259 assists (for 521 points). His reputation as a physical player is well-deserved and he’s been assessed 1,217 penalty minutes and had more than 90 fights.

Simmonds’ current teammate Jason Spezza, who’s played 1,227 games himself, appreciates Simmonds’ work because he noted that the “fighting, the hitting, playing around the net” are hard jobs. As a result, getting to play 1,000 games is “a heck of an accomplishment.” (from “Leafs’ Wayne Simmonds set for Game No. 1,000 … GameNight Canucks, Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun, 04/03/22).

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