The Toronto Maple Leafs big win against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night suggests that change is looming.
It felt like a vintage Toronto Maple Leafs win against the Buffalo Sabres over the weekend as they defeated their divisional rival 5-3 at home. This was only the team's fifth game scoring five or more goals, when comparatively, they had scored five or more goals eight times by this time last year.
Although this win was out of character for this current roster, it could set the trend for what the future holds. I'm not indicating that the team is going to abandon their defensive structure and focus on offense again, but I feel like this third line could be sticking around for awhile.
This is exactly what the third line was missing and everything that the team could want. Bobby McMann, Nick Robertson and Max Domi have all been misfits this year, but together, they looked like one of the best third lines in hockey. All three of these players have an offensive upside to their game, but they haven't quite found chemistry apart. However, playing together could be a solution to their depth issues.
Toronto Maple Leafs May Have Found Their New Third Line
After scoring two goals, four assists, five shots on net and seven hits, Craig Berube had nothing but great things to say, praising their physical play as well as the offense.
Right when we all thought that Robertson was about to get traded, he may have climbed his way back into the good books with that performance, as that third line has everything you want out of a bottom-six trio. They scored, played well defensively and even played with an edge all night.
If this third line can stay engaged, I think it means the end of Fraser Minten and also could mean the end to David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok. The Leafs have also found some chemistry with the combination of Connor Dewar, Pontus Holmberg and Steven Lorentz, so I don't really see where Kamp's $2.4M AAV fits into this line-up when you can do it for a heck of a lot cheaper.
I still think the Leafs could use another depth forward, but John Tavares scoring a hat-trick depsite not playing alongside Mitch Marner or William Nylander all night showcases just how special of a season he's having.
Although the Sabres are having a terrible season, I still think the Leafs should take a ton of pride out of that win and use it as momentum heading into a tough stretch before the break. Currently 19-10-2, and leading the Atlantic Division, the Leafs have a ton to be thankful for this time of the year.