Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: Crushed in Boston

By Wilbert Timmermans

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - OCTOBER 4: Head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs directs his team against the Winnipeg Jets during NHL action on October 4, 2017 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Photo by Jason Halstead /Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - OCTOBER 4: Head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs directs his team against the Winnipeg Jets during NHL action on October 4, 2017 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Photo by Jason Halstead /Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 4-1 against the Boston Bruins.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were outplayed in almost every facet of the game, a poor performance, to say the least. Frustrating to watch even. Boston controlled 62% of the play.

The most frustrating part of last nights game was not the poor on-ice performance of the Toronto Maple Leafs, no, the most frustrating part was the poor performance of Mike Babcock. I’ve said it before, when Mike Babcock puts his mind to something, it seems he won’t let that go.

Mike Babcock

Mike Babcock started the game with matching the Matthews line against the Bruins top line. Now, I think most of the people watching, knew after about 10 minutes that the matchups weren’t working in the Toronto Maple Leafs favor. Mike Babcock, stubborn as he is, however, stuck with those matchups until the third period. Even though Boston controlled 70% of the play during the first period.

Even when finally switching to plan B, Mike Babcock, again, made the wrong choices. Separating Nylander from Matthews wasn’t the answer to the Leafs lack of offense. It seemed Babcock was desperately trying something like he didn’t know what to do. Nylander, who was the best offensive player on the Leafs side, wasn’t helped with being shuffled around all over the lines.

Clearly, the matchup between Matthews and Bergeron was a mistake. Not only did the Bergeron line completely shut down the Matthews line offensively, they exposed their defensive weaknesses.

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Not to mention Babcock chose to play Bozak in the last minutes when Andersen was pulled, the same Bozak who, not for the first time this season, failed to score on an open net.

Travis Dermott

Personally, I hoped Babcock would pair Rielly with Zaitsev and Gardiner with Hainsey, to see if those pairings would work out better. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been the best idea since both have just returned from an injury. I was however excited to see Dermott and Carrick playing as the third pairing, let’s just hope that Babcock does change this over one loss.

Losing against Boston, wasn’t the biggest worry of the Toronto Maple Leafs eventually. During the third period, Toronto Maple Leafs latest sensation Travis Dermott fell victim to a nasty play from Bruins David Backes. Leaving the ice for the dressing room shortly to check for an injury. He returned shortly after, but it remains a guess how much damage the play inflicted on him.

Next: Are the Leafs Contenders?

Let’s hope Travis Dermott hasn’t sustained any damage and is able to dress up for Monday match against Anaheim.

Thanks for reading!

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