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The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a troublesome 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Adding to the frustration that the staff surrendered one other result in a staff intently trailing them. The match gave the impression to be arrange for a win, however the Maple Leafs simply couldn’t pull it off.
The Red Wings limped into Scotiabank Arena late, having spent a lot of the day held up within the airport. However, the Maple Leafs didn’t take management of the sport after they had an opportunity, and it got here again to chew them. While Toronto performed a stable third interval, a mistake value them, and Andrew Copp took benefit to attain the tiebreaking objective with 1:40 left within the third. That was the killer.
Item One: Mitch Marner Is the Fastest Maple Leafs Player to 600 factors
Mitch Marner grew to become the fastest player in team history to achieve his 600th profession level final evening. Marner’s objective within the second interval gave the Maple Leafs a brief 2-1 lead. Despite the staff’s collapse within the ultimate body, his accomplishment is value noting. Over the previous six video games, he’s put up 4 targets and 4 assists.
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Marner now has 18 targets and 28 assists (for 46 factors) on the season. He has additionally registered a plus-6 ranking. Given the franchise’s historical past and the variety of nice gamers who’ve performed in Toronto, his file is kind of superb. Marner’s been and continues to be a dependable offensive participant for the staff.
Item Two: Ilya Samsonov Has a Decent Game, Just Not Good Enough
Ilya Samsonov returned to the beginning function amidst a lot hand-wringing by analysts and followers. In fact, he performed stable sufficient in his first begin since being recalled from the American Hockey League (AHL). Before he was waived, Samsonov had struggled mightily this season.
While he didn’t battle a lot, sadly, his return didn’t have a storybook ending. For a lot of the evening, the staff shut down the Red Wings’ offence; nonetheless, additionally they made some errors and had some unhealthy luck. The consequence was the identical – one other loss. But Samsonov has improved.
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In his first begin since Dec. 29, Samsonov made essential saves within the scoreless first interval. Throughout the sport, he confronted 23 photographs and allowed three targets. While he held his floor within the first two intervals, he simply couldn’t assist his staff maintain the lead within the third. He gave up an early and a late objective, and that was the story.
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He couldn’t be faulted for all of the targets, however then once more, he couldn’t make a key save to cowl for his staff’s errors both. Samsonov’s file now stands at 5-3-6, with a 3.88 goals-against common and a .863 save share in 16 begins.
From the shock deployment, plainly the Maple Leafs are contemplating utilizing him as Martin Jones’ backup quite than giving the web to younger Dennis Hildeby any time quickly. This loss sheds gentle on the staff’s ongoing struggles defensively and find goalie stability.
Item Three: Pontus Holmberg Has Another Solid Game
On a optimistic notice, Pontus Holmberg is changing into a superb participant. He stood out in final evening’s sport, scoring a objective and making notable optimistic contributions within the 4-2 loss.
In a shock transfer, after the staff’s disappointing 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, the coaching staff gave Holmberg a top-line role as a part of a lineup shuffle. He delivered. While he didn’t have a ton of ice time (slightly below 13 minutes), he was efficient.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
All groups undergo these up-and-down intervals all through the season. However, the Maple Leafs’ latest performances are regarding. The key gamers who must be main the staff offensively are usually not. Last evening, each William Nylander and Auston Matthews put up zeroes on the rating sheet.
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The temper amongst analysts and followers is downright miserable. The staff has an enormous highway journey developing, together with in opposition to the surging (10 wins in a row) Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday evening, and a few predictions counsel that the staff will return from that highway journey out of a playoff spot.
If that’s the case, what a shock for this talent-laden staff. I’m already listening to requires head coach Sheldon Keefe’s job. Is there an opportunity he received’t make it to the top of the season?
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