Leafs Return from All-Star Break

 

From Toronto Sun

Before I give my thoughts on last night's Leaf game. A 3-2 loss to the Islanders I want to quickly talk about something surrounding the All-Star Game on the weekend. According to Jeff Marek, players weren’t happy with “how hard” Matthews was playing during the games. To those players I have one very simple suggestion… grow a set. This year for the first time in decades the All-Star weekend was watchable. Auston Matthews and his team wanted to put on a show for the fans because that’s who the game is for, and those fans want to see him score goals and play like the game meant something. No one was happy with how lazy Kucherov was during the skills competition or even in the game. So, to Connor Hellebuyck and others who aren’t happy maybe you should start considering what the fans want because, after all, they’re the reason you get paid millions. So, I want to give a stick tap to Team Matthews and McDavid for making the All-Star game entertaining.

Now onto last night's game. The Islanders were in town and for the most part the Leafs played a solid game there were times when they outworked their opponent and controlled the play deserving a better result in the end. Although there were many positives to take away from the game like the team's play overall or Ilya Samsonov’s play since returning from his break away. The frustrations I have with this team are mounting.

First, there's the play the play of Max Domi. I know Leaf fans were feeling nostalgic when he was signed in the summer but if you have paid any attention to past articles, I had written any time Domi was linked to the Maple Leafs I said every time he isn’t his dad and there’s a reason Max has been on so many teams. Now, I know there’s a strong possibility that people close to the Domi’s may see this, but I stand by my opinion when I say if he was moved at the trade deadline for anything I would be happy. I am beyond fed up with Max always looking to pass the puck instead of taking a shot on goal and last night was a perfect example. Max uses his speed to beat the Islander defender which is a great thing to see. Max then takes the puck around the net and has the goalie beaten all he needs to do is send the puck towards the net and the game is tied. Instead, Max goes around the net and sends a blind pass into the middle of the ice to a group of Islander players turning the puck over and allowing them to counterattack. Max is getting 3 million dollars, and his last goal came December 12^th in a game against the Bruins, it is now February 6^th and there have been far too many games where Max had a stat line full of zeros. I know many readers will see that and bring up Tyler Bertuzzi and yes, he hasn’t scored in a while either, but the difference is Tyler has chances multiple times a night, but his game is different. Tyler is a guy who brings grit and sandpaper into the lineup. He will willingly through hits and get under the opponent's skin with his play on the forecheck. Tyler is at least noticeable on most nights when I watch Domi play this season every single time he has the puck I tell myself “He’s going to pass” and sure enough he does. Look at a player like Nick Robertson every time he has the puck he looks to shoot.

Another issue I have with the team is decisions in their end. Last night the Leafs had just tied the game thanks to their captain. The next shift the play goes to the Leafs end of the rink and Timothy Liljegren who for the most part has played well this season, but last night turned the puck over with a backhand pass to no one. Thankfully Ilya Samsonov would make the important save keeping the game level. Late in regulation though Toronto in their end would win the draw and TJ Brodie for some reason would reverse the puck to his partner Morgan Reilly. You can tell by his reaction that Morgan wasn’t expecting the pass so he panicked and lost the puck on his backhand and Pierre Engvall would score the game-winning goal.  With the amount of experience Brodie has in this league he should know that in this situation after your team has won the draw you send the puck hard around the boards to exit the zone and if you happen to ice the puck that’s fine take the few seconds to reset and clear the zone again. Had he gone North with the puck Toronto would likely take the game to overtime picking up at least one valuable point in the standings. I by no means am panicking over this loss I know that Toronto will rebound Wednesday against Dallas, but the Leaf defenders need to learn how to read the ice and make the simple play because bad decisions in our end wasted another solid performance from Samsonov in goal.

 

Lastly, I want to pass along well wishes to Leaf alumni Lanny McDonald who while flying back to Calgary from Toronto on the weekend suffered a cardiac event. Thanks to two nurses who happened to be waiting for their own separate flight they were able to tend to Lanny who is now recovering in hospital.

Lanny Leafs Nation and the rest of the hockey world are pulling for you, and condolences to the Spezza family as Jason’s brother Matthew passed away over the weekend.