The Toronto Maple Leafs Ten Game Stretch Review and Forecast

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are on a fantastic run.

Despite some overtime losses and some unfortunate injuries, the Toronto Maple Leafs have just a single regulation loss in their last ten games.

While frustrating at times, it’s important to remember that overtime losses are not actual losses – they count in the standings the same as a tie.

With a 1-5 record this year in the extra period, there is no doubt the Leafs will be practicing 3 on 3 much more often than normal over the next little while.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Over the Last Ten Games

Record over last ten games: 6-1-3
Goals for: 32
Goals against: 21

After only managing 10 points in their first 10 games, The Toronto Maple Leafs accumulated 15 points over the following 10 game stretch.

There were some frustrating moments, mostly the three overtime losses that were essentially just throwing away points. In my opinion, though, the last ten games should be considered a very successful run.

Only one loss in regulation, and wins from three different goaltenders. Matt Murray, Ilya Samsonov and Erik Kallgren all played well and each earned two victories.

Before the season began, it was the goaltending that most pointed to as their biggest weakness, and at this point it may be their biggest strength.

The offense has not quite found its groove yet, with Sheldon Keefe doing more shuffling than a blackjack dealer, and the dynamic duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner being split up periodically.

Eventually the Toronto Maple Leafs will regain their scoring touch, but if their goaltending continues to play the way it has been, they may not need to.

Apr 20, 2021; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers (57) moves to defend Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

Current Position in the Standings

2nd in Atlantic Division
3rd in Eastern Conference
5th in NHL

What a difference ten games can make.

The parity in the NHL has caused a log jam in the Eastern conference standings. After the first ten games the Toronto Maple Leafs were 7th in the Atlantic, 13th in the Conference and 21st overall in the NHL.

Toronto now sits amongst the top five teams in the entire league and should be setting their sights on the top of the NHL standings.

Boston, Vegas and New Jersey are all on a torrid pace to start the year and will be difficult to catch

However, all three teams will find themselves in a slump at some point this season, and that is when the Maple Leafs can make their move. The poor start may prove to be a blessing as the Leafs seem to be getting better with each game and maybe finally playing with some urgency and purpose.

Matthews Rocket Richard Watch:

Goals in last 10 games: 6
Total Goals: 9
Odds to win Rocket: +400

Auston Matthews still has not quite lit the lamp at the pace he did last season. Or has he? Last season at the 20 game mark Matthews was sitting at 10 goals, this season after 20 games Matthews sits at nine goals.

It was around the 20 game mark where Auston Matthews began his incredible run of 51 goals in 50 games, so expect an explosion of goals in the month of December.

Matthews currently has a shooting percentage of 6.3%, which is nearly 10 percentage points under his career average. ( stats via NHL.com ). It’s just 3% at 5v5, where he has only 3 goals all season.

Matthews’ shooting percentage has crept up a bit in the last couple of games and in the next few weeks should be climbing even close to the 10% mark. If you can find Matthews to win the Rocket for +400 or better, take it.

He is currently seven goals off of the lead, and although Connor McDavid is arguably the best player in the league, he is not known for being a consistent goal scorer.

He has already begun to slow down, and with the team giving up far too many scoring chances so far this year the team may begin to shift their focus towards team defense and tighten up their play. Ten games from now Matthews may have this seven goal gap completely closed, so take him while the payout is still on the plus side.

Nov 19, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) cuts around the Buffalo Sabres goal in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Next Ten Games:

The Toronto Maple Leafs begin the next ten games on a four game road trip and cap it off with a three game home stand.

Six of the next ten games will be on the road, including a pivotal game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are right behind Toronto in the standings.

Catching the Boston Bruins for first in the Atlantic division may be too much to ask for in this next stretch of ten games, but creating some separation between themselves and the Lightning should be within reason.

The Achilles heel of the Maple Leafs this season has been playing teams near the bottom of the standings, so fortunately this ten game stretch only includes two such match ups. Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks will both be coming through Toronto in this stretch and the Maple Leafs should be looking to avenge some of their poor early outings.

I predict an even more successful ten game run here with the Maple Leafs pulling in a record of 8-2-0, exorcising their OT demons and winning a couple in the extra frame.

Obviously with Morgan Rielly going down the Leafs are looking really thin on the blue-line, but I think this could be the opportunity that the coach has needed to break the young duo of Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin into playing some important minutes.

It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Next. Big Trade Rumour, but Should the Leafs Bite?. dark

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had three goalies win games in the last ten games, and one thing to look forward to over the next ten is a more consistent presence in net, as Matt Murray figures to get most of the next ten games, depending on health, of course.

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