Tonight was no different, but the Leafs managed to do it and two points are the only thing that matters as they try to gain the advantage of the ice at home in the first round. Your game in 10:
- The Leafs’ game against Washington was one of the best and most complete of the season, so I was curious to see how it would go on a Saturday night in front of a ton of Leafs fans in Ottawa. I wouldn’t say they pulled out their guns, but the Leafs played except for TJ Brodie being badly beaten by Adam Gaudette in a hurry. Next, they played a power game where the first unit was dangerous and almost finished a few scrum ahead before the second unit created much. After 10 minutes, the Leafs played the game completely, but the two best chances were Gaudette off the rush and Josh Norris essentially lost a wide net in a tic-tac-toe passing the play off of the rush.
- After a commercial timeout with an offensive line, Sheldon Keefe put William Nylander next to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for a change. They did not score or really create a goal opportunity, but they did play a power game. It is worth finding this trio more appearances. In recent weeks, the Leafs have made it clear that they can actually play John Tavares with the non-star wingers and the line will be effective. The Leafs could hypothetically use a loaded top line and follow it with a more than respectable line led by Tavares, then the line led by David Kampf and add Michael Bunting to one of the units. It may not be a look they use in all 60 minutes, but obviously there will be times that follow in the playoffs and they will want to either change the lines or load to make a push.
- As imagined in the first half of the season, the Leafs played, but the Senators were the ones who got off the ice and scored the opening goal away from the rush. TJ Brodie, who was having a hard time throughout the season, made a weak effort when he had a wide open shot in the beginning (after re-watching it a few times, I’m not sure he realized he was getting an elf. That’s why he’s a defender). Justin Holl took a crazy run after a nice pass. while you wonder if he could have done something anyway if he had made a tough stop right after the pass, maybe it’s 2v1 instead (which would make a difference). Even if he could not return, it is a bad process to go through there. I would not expect a full stop – it’s absurd to expect it from him there – but he also can’t just go under the hood like Brody scoring a guaranteed goal. The most underestimated part of the goal is that Alex Kerfoot, who would be the striker able to cover high, was buried with a clear kick by Brady Tkachuk. Instead, he lifted himself off the ground, Hall did not stop completely, Brody played a terrible game with the elf and it was a 2v0 goal where you can not say anything to the goalkeeper except to apologize. Shortly after the goal, Michael Bading took a mini-break, but stepped aside.
- The defensive mistakes continued shortly after as the Senators gained the belt in a hurry, circled behind the net and reached the point. If you look at the front of the net, Timothy Liljegren was standing right in front of Erik Kallgren and looking at him for no reason. Brady Tkatsuk pushed him out of the middle and examined the goalkeeper himself before the elf reached Calgren and was deflected by Liliegren. A defender in this position must find a man and pull him away, not control his goalkeeper, push from the middle and deflect the elf above you. The Leafs tried to create another boost afterwards. Nylander took a penalty in a weak call, but the Leafs created a 2v1 while they were short-sighted anyway. TJ Brodie made a bad decision again with the elf, with no real chance to score.
- The Leafs are rightly experimenting with their fourth turn. Jason Spezza has been having a hard time for a while. Wayne Simmonds for even more. Kyle Clifford can not play every night. The only real supporter at this point is Colin Blackwell. In the second period, the version that presented Clifford – Blackwell – Spezza connected for a goal after he put the scraper in the offensive zone from a clear breakout, worked to the point and just reached the net. Giordano did a very good job of keeping the pulse, Hall made a very nice heads-up game to get Clifford to ask for it and give him an easy tip, and Clifford did a great job of it (though based on his reaction afterwards, we are not entirely sure that he really knew what he was doing). Do you want the fourth line to be able to swing games and change momentum? Not always with a goal – especially with this group – but in this case, it was a nice contribution to the match sheet to bring the Leafs back to one. Cliffy gets one back! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/bg3EU0U0WG – Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 17, 2022
- After the goal, I started thinking that if their fourth line got one, surely someone else would follow and we would have a draw in hockey. After the goal, however, the Leafs did nothing. The top line had a chance – if the iceberg was tied, it was probably a tie – but it was ruled out and then the Leafs did not create many obstacles to high-risk opportunities in their first half in the second period. Of course, the Senators finally went down on the ice, put the elf on the spot, dropped a point in this net for diversion and re-opened a two-goal lead. Somewhat similar to their second goal, the Sens were able to take clear shots and bring the bodies to the front of the net with ease.
- This time, the Leafs responded well with a goal just 1:17 later. The top line was buzzing at it. Timothy Liljegren hits the bar, but the Leafs hold the ball. Finally, Marc Giordano picked up the elf from his strong side and made a nice shot-pass from Michael Bading and inside. MIKEY B BURIES! pic.twitter.com/kQqJySHiTr – Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 17, 2022 This was Giordano’s second point of the night (at that point). Bading did well to get into the net and made a choice for himself. Unlike the first goal, this really gave the Leafs a little life and they started to create some opportunities and energy. He was led mainly from the top line as Mitch Marner danced and created in the next shift. Morgan Rielly also came in and had a nice shot that went wide. Going the other way, Liljegren got caught in the attacking zone and Tkachuk got into a mini-split that Erik Kallgren withdrew, which was a big game as the Leafs started to have an accident when there was only one. That was great because Marner equalized before the end of the season. Marner basically did everything in it. After the Leafs lost the attacking zone draw, Marner created the turnover, gave the mouse to TJ Brodie and then put it at home. Marner’s confidence in his shot at the moment is unquestionable. There is no chance he would have made that shot a few years ago or even last spring against the Habs. FROM DISTANCE! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/VliZTJg5ev – Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 17, 2022
- Coming out for the third, the top line started well creating some time zone. Ilya Mikheyev and Pierre Engvall created some good off-screen opportunities (including John Tavares), but it was the senators who broke the deadlock over a gift from Ilya Lyubushkin. There really is not much else to say here – imagine the elf. Lyubushkin is fit and stable, but the elf’s handling and movement are the real question for him when it comes to playing in the playoffs, especially next to Rielly – and especially if he plays against Tampa Bay. Despite playing regularly with Morgan Rielly, Lyubushkin averages just 16:16 per game as a Leaf and has not played more than 16:03 in any of his last five games, although he played 18 minutes tonight. The lack of time for ice to go along with the quality players with whom he generally shares ice helps to hide these weaknesses. In a perfect world for the coaching staff, the Jake Muzzin-Justin Holl couple are back in shape (there is absolutely no evidence to believe it at this point, but I think that is why they were reunited immediately when Muzzin returned) , TJ Brodie can reunite with Rielly and they can pair Mark Giordano with Timothy Liljegren, as they were effective together. There has been so much talk about Liljegren or Holl coming out of the playoffs, but Lyubushkin is definitely in the mix (and not just because of this goal against, he just plays compared to Holl and can not produce like Liljegren). But with Muzzin’s health and general play flowing – to keep up with Holl’s up and down game – it’s a case of musical chairs right now.
- The rollercoaster game, however, was not over yet. Mitch Marner equalized once again, making a nice play with Michael Badding, who had the means to get it into the net. It’s the kind of fat target you love to see: The player leads the net hard, his teammate puts it low in the net for a rebound and the elf is deflected towards his teammate. And that’s why they say go online 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/kHIr1M1ujm – Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 17, 2022 The…
