The Toronto Maple Leafs Have a Very, Very Good Weekend

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a very, very good weekend.

First, they were forced to play a weird 2PM Friday game on the road against the Minnesota Wild. They won that without issue.

Then it was off to Pittsburgh where they won their 3rd straight road game and continued their insane November run, which is now 9-1-4 (and, technically, dates to the last game of October).

The Leafs play Detroit tonight, and if they avoid losing in regulation, they will have lost just a single time in a full month. (all stats naturalstattrick.com).

Toronto Maple Leafs On Fire

The most impressive thing about the Leafs current run is that Auston Matthews, who is 31 goals ahead of the second highest 5v5 goals scorer over the last three seasons,  just passed David Kampf (who is perhaps the least offensive forward in the NHL) in 5v5 goals on the season.

Add in a three-goalie rotation (due to injuries to both starters and the team’s AHL starter), and the injuries to Muzzin, Brodie, Rielly, and (previously) Liljegren (ironically, the most significant, least discussed of the team’s injuries) and the Leafs record is almost unbelievable.

The Leafs are fourth overall, and sixth by points-percentage.

The five teams ahead of them have combined to play 107 games, and equal the same amount of overtime losses the Leafs have.

The point here is that if you adjust for context the Toronto Maple Leafs are in first place (in the MLB they call it the Pythagorean Record).

The Leafs game in Pittsburgh was truly impressive.  It was the Leafs best and most complete game of the season.

Not a coincidence: in the Leafs best game, they played Liljegren and Sandin the most.

Both 5v5 and in total, the Leafs two best defenseman were finally deployed like it, much to the benefit of the team.

Paired for 16 5v5 minutes, they posted an impressive 56% puck possession rating, got 63% of the shots, and scored twice while allowing nothing, and playing to a 66% Xgoals rating.

Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie will make an incredible second pairing.

Just saying.

Also I better mention Pontus Holberg.  He’s played eight games so far.  The ice tilts in the Leafs direction when he’s on it, and he’s even scored a couple goals.  The coach said he “doesn’t make mistakes” and he appears poised to become a regular.

It’s going to be very hard to crack this lineup.  Nick Robertson  has played fantastic when he’s gotten in, and with Aston-Reese, Malgin and now Holmberg playing so well, it’s about that time.

You know what I’m getting at.

We mention it every three days.

But with the ascension of Holmberg, it’s got to be imminent. 

I’ve been so sure it’s been imminent since June.

Alex Kerfoot is going to get traded.  This time I mean it!