Maple Leafs Continue to Win With One Hand Tied Behind Back

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a distinct advantage whenever they play the Winnipeg Jets: They’re a much better team. 

The Maple Leafs are 4-2 against the Jets now, after a shootout victory Friday night, but have posted an expected goals percentage of 60% in five of the six games.

Friday’s shootout was significant for all sorts of reasons: Jason Spezza picked up an assist and became the 100th highest scoring player in NHL history; Jack Campbell won his eighth game in a row, and the Leafs played in their first shoot-out of the season.

The most significant thing may have been that the Leafs power-play yet again failed to score, including an overtime opportunity.  The Leafs haven’t scored a power-play goal in 26 straight tries, despite, prior to the start of this streak, having the NHL’s best power-play.

Maple Leafs Power Play Still Shooting Blanks

The Toronto Maple Leafs are essentially playing with one hand tied behind their back, scoring only 5v5 goals (except for occasionally a short-handed one, or a shoot-out one). Despite this, they are now on a six game point streak where they have won five of six games, losing just once in overtime to the Oilers.

One has to wonder just what kind of record the Leafs would have if Matthews wrist, the powerplay and the Andersen/Campbell injuries didn’t coincide to cause a loss of six games in eight tries –  especially because the team put up some really solid performances in those games.

Regardless, the Leafs are back in first, now with a four point cushion and a game in hand over both the Jets and Oilers.  The Leafs remain one point out of first overall, and sit sixth by point percentage.  For context, despite being in sixth place, the Leafs would be tied for first if the Hurricanes happened to lose their next two games in a row.

As for last night’s game, the real difference was in the high-danger chances.  The Leafs had 16 of them, the Jets just six.  Both goalies were great, so that was pretty much the game.  The Leafs are weirdly off tomorrow night, but will resume play Sunday against the Flames.

This is a lucky break for the Leafs because it will allow them to use Jack Campbell instead of Michael Hutchinson. As for Freddie Andersen, I’m not sure it matters anymore – it’s going to be pretty hard to take the net from Campbell at this point, because he has been absolutely incredible.