The Toronto Maple Leafs are gradually morphing into the Boston Bruins. That’s not hyperbole. It’s not clickbait. It’s a subtle, yet palpable reality.
Their win against the New Jersey Devils is the clearest example of how the Toronto Maple Leafs went from a laissez-faire club to a grinding, hardworking group.
Tuesday night’s game in New Jersey felt like a playoff game. The Leafs hung tough, winning the game by taking advantage of the opportunities they got. This game wasn’t a 6-5 slugfest. It wasn’t a wild rollercoaster road where the Leafs blew a 4-1 lead and won 6-4.
The Leafs played a Boston Bruins-esque game. They were outshot 39-17 and were badly outplayed. But the Leafs didn't allow a lot of slot chances, kept the Devils to the outside, neither team scored on the power play, and the Leafs outhit the Devils 22-18.
Plus, the Leafs blocked more shots (20-13) and, most importantly, played tight defense around Anthony Stolarz. Of course, Stolarz deserves a ton of credit for making 38 saves, particularly a huge one in overtime that led to the Auston Matthews game-winner.
That being said, the Leafs have quietly become a much more talented version of the Boston Bruins. For years, fans and analysts have talked about how the Toronto Maple Leafs could not match teams like the Bruins. Such teams were too tough, grinding, and played a style that could chew up high-flying offensive stars.
It seems that Craig Berube has managed to morph the Leafs into a tight-checking team capable of shutting down a top offensive club like the Devils. While there are still some kinks to be worked out, the Leafs, nonetheless, look determined to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup this season.
Could the Toronto Maple Leafs sustain a grinding style of play?
Perhaps the biggest risk associated with a grinding, tight-checking style of play is that it can become unsustainable over long periods. The Leafs still have more than 50 games to play this season. Thus, it’s fair to ask: Can the Toronto Maple Leafs sustain a grinding style of play for the rest of the season?
The answer is that the Leafs don’t have to play every game like they did in New Jersey. Not every opponent is like the Devils. That situation means the Leafs need to adjust their approach to suit their opponents’ strengths.
While this statement doesn’t mean backing off against seemingly weaker opponents, it means that not every game has to be a grind-fest. Some games can be more suited for the Leafs’ speed and agility to take over.
But then, some games will require the Leafs to buckle down and drop the hammer. For instance, in preparation for last night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, the coach would most likely call for the Leafs to drop the hammer. The Wings are a fast, puck-possession team. So, the Leafs cannot afford to let players like Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond run amok.
Then, the Leafs play the Sabres on Sunday night. The Sabres lack a clear-cut identity, meaning their inconsistency often gets the better of them. Such a team could favor the Leafs speed and skill to take precedence over a physical grinding style.
Ultimately, we’re seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs play postseason hockey in December for the first time in quite a while. The Leafs look solid and have the rest of the season to iron out the kinks. It remains to be seen if such efforts remain sustainable over the long haul.