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The Carolina Hurricanes squeezed out a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in a carefully contested sport on Sunday evening. Despite the Maple Leafs’ decided effort, the Hurricanes seized early alternatives and acquired stellar goaltending from Frederik Andersen to take residence the win.
The Maple Leafs discovered themselves trailing early as a result of Hurricanes’ fast begin. Adding to Toronto’s woes, Carolina capitalized on an unfortunate bounce for Toronto when a puck deflected off Jake McCabe into the web. He was doing his job however was in the proper place on the mistaken time. It was as if the hockey gods have been telling the Maple Leafs, “Not tonight, Blue & White.”
Related: The Times Maple Leafs’ Tomas Kaberle Was Almost Traded
While Joseph Woll stood sturdy within the crease, these two objectives proved too difficult for the Maple Leafs to beat. They fell quick of their comeback effort. Despite a late surge, it wasn’t sufficient to reverse the tide. Facing a difficult opponent, the Maple Leafs in the end paid the value for his or her early deficit and missed alternatives.
Item 1: 3 Reasons Why the Maple Leafs Lost the Game
There have been three causes the Maple Leafs misplaced the sport. First, they’re experiencing stunning energy play struggles. The staff ought to be capable of convert with the person benefit. Yet, the Maple Leafs failed to attain on any of their 4 power-play possibilities. Despite an influence play late within the third interval, together with a vital alternative after Brent Burns’ tripping penalty, Toronto couldn’t get it completed. Their incapacity to supply with the additional skater disadvantaged them of taking residence a win.
Second, ex-Maple Leafs goalie Andersen got here again to hang-out his former staff. He had a stellar efficiency. It’s laborious to not root for the previous Maple Leaf. This season, he suffered a blood-clotting scare that stored him out of the lineup. Last evening, he made 31 saves to select up his sixth straight win since coming back from damage. Andersen’s exceptional play was the first motive the Maple Leafs’ offence couldn’t get untracked. He constantly turned away their scoring possibilities to maintain his staff forward on the scoreboard.
Related: Frederik Andersen’s Unforgivable Sin According To Maple Leafs Fans
Third, the Maple Leafs couldn’t erase the early deficit. Only after Brady Skjei and Sebastian Aho scored within the first interval did the Maple Leafs discover their legs and placed on a surge. They acquired one aim from Nick Robertson within the third interval to chop the deficit to at least one. However, that was all she wrote. They missed possibilities and hit posts and couldn’t rating the equalizer in opposition to the hard-working Hurricanes.
Item 2: Joseph Woll Stops 41 Shots in a 2-1 Loss
Joseph Woll was nice regardless of the 2-1 loss. The 25-year-old goalie stopped a powerful 41 of 43 pictures. After permitting two objectives, he stopped every little thing that got here his approach. It wasn’t as if he settled down to search out his rhythm; he at all times had it. He performed nicely all the sport. His capacity to maintain the Hurricanes at bay over the ultimate two durations held the Maple Leafs inside putting distance. He gave his staff an opportunity to claw again into the competition.
Despite Woll’s heroics, the Maple Leafs managed just one aim. That mentioned, his play was probably the perfect information on the evening for the staff. Fans must be inspired. He’s been rusty since coming back from an ankle damage and struggled with a .849 save share in his earlier three video games. However, final evening, Woll bounced again in an enormous approach.
With a season file of 10-8-1, a .912 save share, and a 2.86 goals-against common, Woll is hitting his stride precisely on the proper time. He and Ilya Samsonov have emerged from season troubles to develop into dependable choices in internet. His continued progress and improvement may develop into key as Toronto seeks to push far into the playoffs.
Item 3: Nick Robertson Can Score But Has Ups and Downs
There are two issues followers can by no means say about Nick Robertson. One is that he doesn’t work laborious. The second is that he can’t rating. Perhaps that is how rookies be taught the sport; Sunday was a rollercoaster experience of ups and downs for him. The teen continues to be discovering his footing within the NHL, however he continues to point out glimpses of sturdy offence and the potential to develop into a key participant for the Maple Leafs sooner or later.
However, on Sunday, Robertson made some rookie errors, together with turnovers and an ill-timed penalty. Despite these setbacks, he scored the team’s only goal when he buried a well-placed shot previous Andersen.
Related: Maple Leafs Nick Robertson: The Cost of Chasing His Dream
Robertson continues to be creating his sport, and he must develop into a extra full participant in all three zones. While he might not but be a elegant “200-foot player,” his offence and dedication to bounce again from errors are admirable.
For what it’s price, I listened to Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph’s radio broadcast on Sunday fairly than watch the sport. Robertson’s title was talked about usually, and it stunned me to see that, in accordance with the field rating, he had performed simply over 10 minutes. He was across the puck all evening lengthy – for good or dangerous. He was additionally one in all solely 4 Maple Leafs who ended the sport with a optimistic plus/minus score. The others have been Timothy Liljegren, Matthew Knies, and Joel Edmundson.
Item 4: Jake McCabe Is Growing Into a Stronger Defender
For my cash, Jake McCabe is the perfect worth on the staff. He’s turning into a powerful participant who engages the sport with physicality and a rising measure of offensive capacity. McCabe’s efficiency for the Maple Leafs this season has highlighted his versatility.
First, he’s transitioned seamlessly from the left to the proper facet of the defensive lineup and has made that difficult transfer with nary a skip in his skating stride. Second, his face this season resembles a “well-worn road map” that bears the scars of numerous on-ice battles and encounters. It appears that each week there’s an image of McCabe’s face exhibiting the bodily toll of the rugged approach he performs the sport.
In some methods, he’s starting to embody the bodily and tenacious fashion harking back to former Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin. Last evening, McCabe engaged in battles alongside the boards and disrupted the Hurricanes’ offensive move all through the sport. His aggressive fashion of play appears to make him playoff-ready. He’s dedicated to difficult opposing gamers and defensive strain. On Sunday, his powerful defensive play helped hold the sport inside attain regardless of the loss.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
Of the staff’s subsequent 5 video games, 4 are on residence ice with no imminent back-to-back contests. The Maple Leafs will face the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday at residence. Following that, they may face the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The staff then hits the street to tackle the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
Related: Carey Price: Saying Farewell to a Canadiens Legend
As the calendar turns into April, the Maple Leafs return residence to play the Florida Panthers on Monday, April 1. That’s adopted by a house sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. It could possibly be an opportunity to climb up the standings with a number of wins, particularly in opposition to the Panthers.
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