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5 Thoughts from the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 Loss to Lightning

By Jeremiah Lee

May 2, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Referee Dan O'Rourke (9) tries to separate players from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay LIghtning as they engage in a brawl in the third period of game one of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Referee Dan O'Rourke (9) tries to separate players from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay LIghtning as they engage in a brawl in the third period of game one of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 4, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner  Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner  Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Lack of Defensive Effort and Awareness

After reading the last takeaway, you can see why this is on the list (and why the list is longer than normal).

The Toronto Maple Leafs have to be much cleaner on defense and transition on the defensive. What do I mean? Don’t take line changes when the opponents have an open stretch pass. Be more aware of stick placement when getting in front of passing lanes (Point should not have gotten the puck).

The Lightning can not compete with the  Leafs on even strength when the Leafs are focused. The  Leafs dictate the pace, and they have the most scoring chances. However, the Leafs took too many breaks, and the Lightning made them pay for it. Yes, I know that I have said this more times than I really should. However, when you re-watch the game, you will see that the score could have been even more skewed if Campbell didn’t make the saves he did.

Auston Matthews is a great two-way forward, but his lazy passes led to way too many scoring chances against. Some may not have been lazy but rather forced. His attempt to pass the puck back to Mark Giordano was WAY too forced, and the Lightning scored on the odd-man rush. Matthews has to be smarter with the puck, and he needs to do it fast.

Going along with puck management and discipline, the Leafs cannot just watch the puck. While that is great advice on defense, the Leafs did WAY too much of it.

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