Editor In Leaf
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3 Takeaways After the Toronto Maple Leafs First 3 Games

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stops a shot against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stops a shot against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs, David Kampf
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 13: David Kampf #64 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Leafs 3rd Line Is Good

The Toronto Maple Leafs have only allowed five goals in three games this year and a big reason for that is their third line of Pierre Engvall, David Kampf and Ondrej Kase.

When the Leafs signed Kampf and Kase this offseason, we didn’t know what to expect. Kampf was an unknown player from Chicago, while Kase was coming off multiple injuries. However, both player’s have seemed to fit into a spot on the third line nicely.

Engvall probably wouldn’t have even got this spot if Matthews wasn’t injured, but I can’t see the team breaking up this third line, even with Matthews returns.

In three games, Kampf and Kase are second and third on the team in Corsi For %, with a 58.2% and 59.3 %, respectively (stats: hockeyreference.com). Despite starting 88% and 95% of their time in the defensive zone, Kampf and Kase have been able to control the puck and play a shutdown role.

Kampf has also played a key role on the team’s penalty-kill, as he has the second most minutes, only behind Justin Holl.

The trio may only have one goal combined, with that coming from Engvall on the power-play, but offense shouldn’t be their specialty. If the three of them can continue to shutdown their opponent and play a strong defensive game, the Leafs will be primed to win low-scoring affairs all year.

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