It's hard to be upset about a first place team, but then again, I don't really believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are a first place team to begin with. (I think they're a middle-of-the-pack team that's gotten lucky with their goaltending).
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a game against the Vancouver Canucks last night that they easily could have won, but didn't. This is the type of game that the best teams take care of with professionalism.
If the Leafs were the team we want them to be, they would have easily won last night's game. The Canucks were tired, they traveled the same day as the game, they were on a losing streak and their team is in disarray.
The Leafs, on the other hand, were missing Jake McCabe, and they did dress their 3rd string goalie, but still, it should have been an easy win. (stats naturalstattrick.com).
Toronto Maple Leafs Blow a Golden Opportunity
The Toronto Maple Leafs turning into a dump and chase team with Auston Matthews, MItch Marner and William Nylander on the roster is perhaps the most unnecessary and stupid decision in the history of the NHL.
That the Leafs could be so desperate for answers that they think neutering the offensive ability of some of the best players they've ever had on their roster is just sad. It's too bad that they didn't win anything over the first eight years of Auston Matthews career, but this change in play styles is ill-advised.
Yes, it seems that it is working quite well, but it's not. The Leafs are where they are in spite of Craig Berube's new system. They are where they are because they have been extremely lucky and their happened to have a half-season of hot goaltending.
Last night was a pathetic effort. The team never looked dangerous at 5v5 and on the power-play they looked even worse. A team with this roster should not be playing like this. I realize that people are psyched about Craig Berube and they like that the Leafs are in first place, but it's an illusion.
Nothing about the Leafs statistical profile suggests they'll continue winning games at this pace. The fact is, Berube is the wrong choice for this team, they are thin at centre-ice and the blue-line, and not leaning into the one thing they are good at (offense) will eventually be their downfall.
Last night's game was the perfect example of what happens to teams when their luck starts to run out: they miss layups against tired teams they should crush.
The Leafs are 12th in 5v5 goals-for per game, and they are 18th in power-play goals per game. For a team loaded with offensive talent, that is pathetic. In all games that are a mixture of skill and luck, the best startegy is almost always to lean into what you are good at. The people running the Leafs don't understand that and it will be their downfall.