Toronto Maple Leafs Look to Improve Offense in Game 2 vs Columbus

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to bounce back in Game 2 of their play-in series Tuesday afternoon against the Columbus Bue Jackets.

After dropping the first game of the series Sunday night, The Toronto Maple Leafs had better be ready to play.  There are legitimate reasons to be concerned after being shutout by the Blue Jackets.

Head Coach Sheldon Keefe will need to make some adjustments for the second game.  The Maple Leafs were brutal in their end at times and had no-show performances from several high-end players.

What are the keys to Game 2?  What adjustments do the Maple Leafs need to make?  Let’s take a look at this afternoon’s matchup.

Toronto Maple Leafs versus Columbus Blue Jackets – Game 2 Preview

Will the Leafs big guns show up today?

Auston Matthews was easily the best player on the ice against Columbus in the opener.  He had five shots on goal (per hockeydb.com) and could have easily had a couple of goals.

The problem for Toronto is that the other elite talent missed the game (checks box score….oh wait, they played!).  Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander have to be better. Indeed, they are in tough against a swarming Blue Jackets defense.  But these guys are supposed to be world-class players.

Tavares has a career 27 points in 32 playoff games and needs to start conjuring up point-per game-play.  Marner disappeared for long stretches against Boston last season too, notching four points in seven games.  He is capable, though, after putting up nine points against the Bruins in their seven-game loss the previous season.

Zach Hyman should not be your second-best forward, as he was on Sunday night.  It would be like asking Zach Galifinakis to lead a Marvel movie.  If the Leafs can even get two out of these three guys to play to their talent, they will have a much better result.  Not all was bad in Game 1, and the Leafs easily could have sneaked out of it with a win.

Will Frederik Andersen get any help from his defense?

Freddie was stellar in Game 1, aside from the one goal he let in, which was soft.  But Andersen gave the Maple Leafs a chance to win.

The supposed shutdown pair of Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl did not look ready for primetime.  Morgan Rielly was solid, but Tyson Barrie and Travis Dermott need to step it up and pick their spots to pinch more carefully.

Then there is Cody Ceci.  I’m not sure what the Leafs see that nobody else does.  Especially when they have Rasmus Sandin ready to go.  Head Coach Sheldon Keefe seems to think the team will have a better effort today.

How do the Leafs break down the Blue Jackets defense?

The Toronto Maple Leafs did still have 28 shots on goal Sunday and recorded nine high danger chances.

They ran into a wall in the net in Joonas Korpisalo.  The team also had only one power-play chance, which says something about the Blue Jackets discipline and something about how the game was refereed.

I’m not complaining about the refs as Columbus only had two power plays (thanks, Cody Ceci!).  It was just odd compared to how many penalties I see in other games.

To get power-play opportunities, you have to engage physically, and the speedy forwards need to, you know, skate.  The team was outhit 37-26 by Columbus, which is not surprising, especially considering their 4th line played just over three minutes.

They are not going to match the physical play and defensive prowess of the Jackets, but they need to make a better effort.  The reward of additional power plays can open up the vaunted Leafs power plays.

My prediction for Game 2: Toronto 3, Columbus 2 in overtime – Auston Matthews with the winner.  I’m in one part quite nervous that we will see a repeat of Game 2, but I also think the team can make a few reasonably simple adjustments to come out on top and even the series.  If they do not, Leafs Nation will be in full panic mode.