Toronto Maple Leafs: Spirited Leafs Unlucky Against Minnesota Wild

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a thrilling encounter with the in-form Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night 3-2 (or if you live in England, 3.21am) at the ACC.

This is a quick run through on my thoughts from the Toronto Maple Leafs/Minnesota Wild game.

Voracious Forechecking

The Leafs got beaten at their own game in the opening two periods, all three goals that they conceded came from the Wild’s aggressive fore-checking. A tactic Toronto have employed for most of the season, clearly forgetting how to defend against it.

The three goals came from not getting rid of the puck quick enough, signs of fatigue from the road-trip perhaps? The Staal goal annoyed me, in front of the net having so much time to clear the zone. Allowing the puck to be robbed with ease then leaving that same man unmarked to tap it home

The JVR, Bozak and Marner line

By far the most effective line on this team. Marner amassed 80.49%, Bozak 80.95% and James Van Riemsdyk an eye watering 85.71%.

These are numbers that would have produced a fountains’ worth of goals had Davan Dubnyk, not been standing in their way. It’s not just the analytics that impressed me, it was the work ethic of this line. They grind like 4th liners with the talent of 1st liners it really is something to behold. It seems to be a recurring theme but when the puck-luck comes it will rain goals for this line.

Davan Dubnyk

Quite simply the only reason that Minnesota have somehow left the ACC with the spoils. Simply sensational to add to his remarkable season. He’ll sleep easy knowing that he managed to keep both Matthews and Marner off of the score sheet. Adding to a tasty .946%, there’s a time to be bitter and a time to just applaud outstanding goaltending. Dubnyk must have both eyes clamped on the Vezina this year.

Moving Forward

Dawdling within our own zone must be fixed and quickly, it would be unfair to blame Andersen on the goals as his D-Men gave him no support. The goals coming from extremely close range. However, it was still a .850% for Andersen whichever way you look at it.

With how forward Reilly and Zaitsev get, I’d like to see their points improve as it is not justifying the holes at the back currently. Decision making on the Powerplay needs to be smarter, going into the game 11th in the league, it didn’t feel like that tonight. Lastly, the urgent need to find a backup to Andersen before he burns out.