The Toronto Maple Leafs’ power-play continues to struggle.
After a dismal 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night, there are probably a few concerning issues growing in the minds of Toronto Maple Leafs fans everywhere: First, is Jack Campbell okay? He has nursed injuries this year, has looked off since his record-breaking win in Ottawa and got the hook yesterday after letting in the first three shots on net.
Either way, the Leafs probably win that game if their power-play is in any way effective. Same goes for last night against the Canucks. Sure, Vancouver stole a game they had no business winning, but the Leafs PP could have easily won them the game, had it bothered to show up.
The Leafs have an unreal lineup and a ton of offensive talent, so what is wrong with their power-play? .
Toronto Maple Leafs Power-Play Problems
Before last night, Toronto’s last power play goal was against Calgary on April 5th.. To find the power-play goal preceding that one we have to travel all the way back to March 9th, when the Leafs faced the Jets and went a scorching 1-2 with the man-advantage.
Prior to last night’s game, they have had 42 PP opportunities since this goal and that lone tally against Calgary in April was the only offense they have been able to muster. During that span, Toronto’s opponents have had 39 PP opportunities, scoring ten times. Amazingly, the Leafs still managed to go 10-5-2 though that stretch but, come playoff time, this level of futility simply cannot happen. (stats naturalstattrick.com).
If we look back to the 2019-2020 playoffs, the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning scored 17 power-play goals in 25 games while their opponent in the finals, Dallas, scored 19 in 27. The Leafs are currently one a streak where they have scored just one power-play goal in their last 17 games. To expect them to be able to compensate for that differential, against a team like Tampa Bay, no less, in the post-season is kind of like expecting Lou Lamoriello to soften his outdated and wildly silly team policies.
So what’s the problem?
Again, this might take awhile. Let’s break it down into parts:
A) A significant part of the problem has to be associated with the mental aspect of their man-advantage woes. When you’re lining up talent and experience of the likes of John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and Morgan Rielly, you’re bound to score a couple of goals just by virtue of who’s on the ice.
The fact that this group is so profoundly stymied suggests that they are pressing too much and putting way too much focus on their stupendously ineffective results. As the drought carries on, so too does the mental anguish. A big game with a bunch of PPG’s might be all that is needed to right this ship.
B) Motion. The power-play has been lacking any type of consistent motion. Even with Hyman and Wayne Simmonds stationed in front of the net, the Leafs lack of motion and consistent puck movement allows opposing penalty killers to clog up the shooting lanes and prevent any type of legitimate scoring chance.
It doesn’t help that the players who are routinely shooting from the point and from further out are usually Rielly and Marner, both of whom possess shots that aren’t exactly booming or, in the case of the latter, about as powerful as a strand of wet linguine.
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to use their speed, keep their feet moving as they cycle the puck and pass quickly without overthinking their possession. Tavares and Matthews are elite finishers and will be able to execute once the shooting lanes are clear and with Hyman and/or Simmonds creating havoc in front.
There are 11 scheduled regular-season games remaining until the playoffs start. That should be enough time for the Toronto Maple Leafs and this coaching staff to figure out the tonic to which ails their fledging power-play. But it’s hard not to be frustrated, if not alarmed, because once playoff hockey rolls around, going 1-42 on the power-play won’t just be a frustrating statistic; it will be the cause of an early trip to Royal Woodbine.