Toronto Maple Leafs Win Game One and Mike Babcock Is a Genius

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins in game one of their annual playoff series last night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs played a smart game, won with their speed, and dominated 5v5, at least until score-effects took over.

For the Leafs, it was a near perfect game.

For coach Mike Babcock, it was even better.

Mike Babcock and the Toronto Maple Leafs

The most important thing about last night’s game was the matchup the Toronto Maple Leafs chose to use against the Bruin’s top line, whenever possible (since it was on the road and Boston has last change). (All stats from naturalstattrick.com).

Whenever the Leafs could, they put out Jake Muzzin and Nikita Zaitsev against the Bruins top line, and arguably the best line in the NHL (because almost no one else loads up three elite players on the same unit) of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

This strategy worked perfectly, as all three players were 50% or lower, and did not score an even-strength goal against the Leafs preferred matchup.

Of course Freddie Andersen was spectacular, but the Muzzin/Zaitsev unit kept the Leafs even or better in shot-attempts, scoring chances, and goal, while during the 1/3 of the time in which Boston was able to get their line out against the Rielly and Hainsey unit, they were completely dominant.

Just for an example of what I’m talking about, when Ron Hainsey was on the ice against David Pastrnak, Hainsey’s CF% was 28%.

Did Babcock read my words of wisdom yesterday and have a change of heart?  No hahahah I only wrote that to freak you out for a second!!  He clearly did not, it’s just that it was such an obvious move anyone could have made it.

I was seriously doubting his abilities as  a coach when I thought he was going to hard match Ron Hainsey against the league’s best line.  But, once the game started and his strategy became clear, I was much relieved, and went back to considering him a great coach.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a great game last night, their speed burned the Bruins for at least three maybe four breakaways, and they didn’t ever look in danger of losing.

Whether they can keep it up is anyone’s guess – mine is Yes – but it is sure going to be fun to watch. Playoff hockey is back, and the Leafs were so good that we can probably forget that the majority of their fans seemed to think they’d get swept.

Funny thing too, I heard on the radio before the game that Jake Muzzin wasn’t an “impact player” and not only did I learn where most of the people who think I’m an idiot get all their information, but I later enjoyed the irony that he was perhaps the player who had the most impact on the game.

Jake Muzzin is going to prove to be the best acquisition anyone made at the trade deadline.  Andersen got a shut-out at 5v5, and Marner was unreal at times, but the Leafs best overall player from the first to the third, was Jake Muzzin who was good enough to make Nikita Zaitsev competent, but to also shut down the best line in hockey.