The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed Joel Edmundson back to the lineup last night and promptly dressed the worst blue-line they have dressed this season (which is really saying something).
The Toronto Maple Leafs faced off against the New Jersey Devils for the second time this week, and though the game was extremely entertaining, they did not win.
However, let's be fair - despite the horrendous blue-line lineup the Leafs threw out there (they dressed Benoit, Lyubushkin and Edmundson together for the first, and let's hope only, time) - they were the better team and deserved the win.
They didn't get it, but you can't win em all.
Toronto Maple Leafs Lose to Devils
The Leafs had the puck for 60% of last night's game, and the heat map just looks like New Jersey's net was on fire. There aren't too many games like this where you actually lose, so I wouldn't worry to much about the score.
The goaltending was bad and there were some specifically dumb plays, but overall, the Leafs continue to be one of, if not the very best team, which they have been since losing 4 straight back in January.
This year's Leafs lead the NHL in 5v5 scoring, 12th in GA + 22nd in 5v5 save%.
— Editor in Leaf (@EditorinLeaf) April 12, 2024
Last year's Leafs were 8th in GF, 4th in GA + 8th in S%.
Unfortunately, bc of S.Bobrovsky, last year's team gets no credit for being the deepest, maybe best, team of the Cap Era. #LeafsForever
Auston Matthews scored 2 goals. Of course he did. The guy is insane. He now has 409 goals this year and is on pace for unlimited. I mean, I lose track. It's the craziest thing any of us have basically every seen while watching this team every single day for our entire lives.
According to Mark Masters, Timothy Liljegren is back at practice today and will play tomorrow against Detroit.
After watching the Leafs play a ridiculous lineup last night, it's welcome new indeed that the man who is indisputably 3rd on their depth chart is back and ready to go.
Without Liljegren, the Blue-Line lacks mobility and puck-moving ability. He is integral to any success the Leafs will have.
The Leafs have three games left, and they will need to win them all and get help if they want home-ice advantage. The Panthers are at 106 points, and by winning out the Leafs can get to 107.
Unfortunately, the Leafs would have to go 3-0 and the Panthes would have to lose both of their remaining games in regulation since they win the tie-breaker by about a hundred miles.
The Leafs are going to open the playoffs on the road, and because the series will be a coin-flip (the two teams are just about as even as you can get) Florida will be the favorite.
I don't really care though, because the Leafs are going to cut through them like a hot knife through butter. Florida shut down their offense last year, but didn't actually deserve to win. Don't believe me? Just go watch the series highlights on youtube and count how many goals Auston Matthews was robbed of.
Good luck shutting him down again. Also, Mitch Marner is kind of due for a playoff explosion. Leafs in four.