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3 Adjustments the Toronto Maple Leafs Must Make vs Capitals

By Jeremiah Lee

Nov 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs players line up on the ice as fans participate in a Hockey Beats Cancer ceremony before playing Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs players line up on the ice as fans participate in a Hockey Beats Cancer ceremony before playing Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs began the season with an underwhelming loss to the Montreal Canadiens, leading to necessary adjustments.

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the season with the intent to begin on the right foot against their rival Montreal Canadiens.

Despite being widely favored to win the game handily, the Maple Leafs found themselves losing 4-3.  The Leafs played well enough to win, but an 0-4 powerplay, a missed penalty shot and a terrible sequence by Jake Muzzin at the end of regulation cost them the win.

Yes, it is the first game of the year but that really isn’t an excuse for the horrible defensive awareness. Jake Muzzin gives the puck right to Nick Suzuki, who passes the puck to Josh Anderson for a snapshot goal… where Justin Holl screens Matt Murray top-shelf. The Canadiens also dominated the transition game with multiple odd-man rushes. Cole Caufield really should’ve scored at least one more goal with the chances the Maple Leafs gave him.

David Savard alone blocked 9 shots on goal against them, and the blocked shots, and the team as a whole blocked 23 to the Maple Leafs 15.

As the team enters another game where they are expected to win, there has to be adjustments. Here are three of things that stood out the most following the loss:

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