Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, the Power-Play Dominate Habs
By William Cann
The PP is back
I know it’s only one game, but unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you know that the Toronto Maple Leafs PP hasn’t looked this good in a LONG time. Like as in 33 games. The PP was 5-78 in that time…6.41%.
Last night it went 2-5 and made a real difference when it was on the ice. While the Leafs had the man advantage they generated 9 scoring chances and had a 90.47 xGF%. The top unit put together a dominant performance that had the Habs scrambling, and Price was the only reason this game did not become a blowout.
One of the PP goals was from Rasmus Sandin, his first career playoff goal. It was a 98.2 mph one-timer off an entry that beat Price. This kid can shoot. I’ve been saying it over and over, but the more he shoots, the more space Matthews is going to get. This is the main reason he is in the lineup over Dermott.
The real reason the PP was so good was that the effort level was through the roof. They gained the zone with purpose, got pucks back, moved through hard areas, got in Price’s face, and fought the PK for every inch of the zone.
THAT was a powerplay. It’s back, and the Habs need to fear it.