It is rather NHL, and particularly very Toronto Maple Leafs, to make a large deal out of fixing their function tune for the season, after which having to switch it after one sport. The lesson, children, is that you simply by no means pass Corridor & Oates. The Greeks knew it, the Carthaginians knew it, and now the Six is aware of it. It’s additionally very hockey to check out and replace one’s function tune to one thing launched this century, work out after the truth that it could offend some altacocker, after which have to change again to the mid-80s (now not that right kind Van Halen is ever unwelcome).
However that’s now not why the Leafs are hilarious.
It’s been an journey of a get started for the Leafs, who’re a no doubt appropriate 2-1-0 at the yr after opening with a three-game homestand. It’s simply how they’ve long past about that get started that already has their trainer calling out their best gamers, which is a willing technique in a the town that just about has not anything else to do however sharpen knives for a generationally gifted workforce of gamers that they’ve sought after to look traded for 3 seasons a minimum of.
The Leafs ate it at house ultimate evening to the Blackhawks 4-1, and the Hawks have been each bit worthy of that win. They have been quicker everywhere the ice, received lots of the free pucks, and restricted the Leafs’ large weapons to at least one Auston Matthews function on the finish of the sport and now not a lot else. And that’s with new hotness Connor Bedard now not even registering some extent. This adopted giving up 5 objectives to the Habs on opening evening, wanting two Hail Marys with the goalie pulled to get it to overtime, and giving up 4 objectives to the Wild in a 7-4 win. Either one of the ones got duvet by way of Auston Matthews’s dueling hat methods.
3 video games in was once sufficient for trainer Sheldon Keefe to press the crimson button. The Leafs have had a addiction of enjoying to the extent in their pageant the previous few years, and no doubt beginning the season with the decidedly rotten Canadiens and Hawks and the Wild (who’re supposedly an NHL workforce however no person’s ever heard of them) was once a cue to start out loosely. And likely, perhaps the highest six may have performed a bit tighter not to give the Hawks a gap and trust.
However Keefe is lacking the purpose, or slightly he can’t deal with the true drawback but, if in any respect. Some numbers for you:
- John Klingberg – 39.7 xGF share
- Jake McCabe – 40.3 xGF share
- TJ Brodie – 42.0 Corsi share
The ones have been the numbers they publish ultimate evening. The Hawks aren’t extraordinarily professional, particularly at the wings, however they’re rapid all over the place. And so they skulled the Leafs d-men beneath Morgan Rielly. Right here’s McCabe seeking to “shield” McKenzie Entwhistle ultimate evening for the hole function, and understand that Entwhistle very most probably received’t play an NHL sport past this season when the Hawks turn into a significant workforce and the opposite 31 golf equipment surprise simply how the hell he ever drew an NHL paycheck:
That was once additionally Klingberg now not actually doing anything else to stay that cross from attending to Entwhistle, and right here’s a sexy superb summation of the remainder of his evening:
Klingberg and McCabe were woeful for the primary 3 video games, wearing xGF percentages beneath 40 % within the 3 video games whilst enjoying second-pairing mins. It will lend a hand if the Leafs have been bailed out by way of both in their goalies, however they’ve given up 12 objectives (one empty-netter) in 3 video games on 86 pictures (.860 save share).
Most likely Keefe solves this by way of selling his one d-man with plus-mobility, Timothy Liljegren, onto the second one pairing to help both of the 2 which might be already on their moment oxygen tank of the season. Nevertheless it was once already suspected that this Leafs protection couldn’t stay alongside of any grouping of fast forwards dealing with them. The Habs and Hawks have made that glance so. What occurs when the Devils or Canes display up?
Clearly, 3 video games in is not any time to be making sweeping judgments. October hockey is in most cases extra open as the great groups attempt to gather law wins to get within the playoff positions once imaginable and the dangerous groups haven’t been stripped for portions but and are nonetheless beneath the guise of “seeking to marvel.” You notice extra 7-5 video games within the season’s opening throes.
Keefe can’t throw his protection beneath the bus, but, or his goalies, as a result of there’s nowhere to head. That is what his GM gave him, while his absolute best forwards have any other tools or two to transport via. They’re additionally already beneath the microscope given the playoff flameouts already at the books, and Keefe most probably figures extra isn’t going to switch a lot.
However the protection would require a midseason overhaul, and if one thing must be completed in regards to the goalies then Keefe is placing the crippling glare of the Toronto highlight on one or two guys who aren’t intended to be anyplace close to it as a substitute of the 5 who’ve been shouldering it for years anyway. It’s simply pleasant it most effective took 3 video games to get right here, as a result of what’s he going to do if the Leafs hit a rut in December or January?
Nevertheless it’s OK Ryan Reaves, like, yelled at a man. A man who scored a function whilst Reeves performed six mins. That’s obviously what Buds All Day has been lacking all this time.
Practice Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @Felsgate.bsky.social
