The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their 2024-25 season with a irritating 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Regardless of outshooting the Canadiens and controlling giant stretches of the sport, Toronto couldn’t crack Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault, who turned in a shutout efficiency. Though Montembeault had an impressive sport, Toronto additionally hit two crossbars and a publish, including a component of luck to his evening. Nonetheless, he made essential saves when wanted, and Montreal’s defence did their half by blocking photographs and disrupting Toronto’s offence.
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It was a troublesome Toronto debut behind the bench for brand spanking new head coach Craig Berube. The Maple Leafs’ energy play, strong sufficient within the preseason, didn’t pot a single objective. That was the distinction between some extent within the standings and a regulation-time loss. The sport marked the Maple Leafs’ first shutout loss in virtually three years – since November 2021. Montembeault stopped all 48 photographs, together with a jaw-dropper in opposition to Auston Matthews within the remaining seconds, serving to Montreal steal the win.
Merchandise One: Transitioning to Berube’s Heavy System May Take Endurance
Between durations final evening, the Sportsnet panel mentioned the Maple Leafs’ new offensive system. As they transition to Berube’s “heavy” type, the analysts burdened this can be an ongoing course of. The crew didn’t look totally snug, and the fluidity of their offensive zone play remains to be growing. Berube’s philosophy of controlling possession beneath the objective line, mixed with a bodily forecheck, requires a major shift within the mentality of gamers who’ve relied on quick, skill-based play.
(R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star by way of Getty Photos)
Larger gamers like Matthews, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies can thrive on this system. Nevertheless, Mitch Marner, recognized extra for his agility than his physicality, would possibly want extra time to regulate. Will the Maple Leafs undertake a hybrid system because the season progresses, mixing their former finesse-based strategy with Berube’s grind-it-out mentality? It’s early but, however up to now issues will not be working.
Merchandise Two: Is It Time to Finish the Nylander Experiment at Centre?
The Maple Leafs’ resolution to experiment with William Nylander at centre has been one of many extra intriguing storylines this season. Nylander, coming off a career-high 98-point season, principally performed on the wing the place his offensive creativity and “free-flowing” sport appear to thrive. However with the Maple Leafs searching for depth down the center, shifting Nylander to centre has been an ongoing trial. The query now could be: Ought to the experiment be over?
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On one hand, Nylander’s offensive talent is plain. His dynamic play makes him a key scoring risk. Nevertheless, some analysts have identified that his sport is usually a bit “free” or reliant on offensive freedom. That type matches higher on the wing, the place defensive tasks are barely lowered. Transferring him to centre, the place extra construction and two-way duty are required, hasn’t allowed him to actually showcase his strengths.
On the flip facet, if Nylander can transition to centre efficiently, it might give the crew much-needed depth down the center. The problem is whether or not it’s value diminishing his offensive influence for a task that hasn’t confirmed to be an ideal match up to now. At this level, the teaching workers should ask themselves whether or not preserving Nylander at centre is simply too huge a danger. I’m hoping the experiment isn’t finished fairly but. As he stated himself, he desires a great lengthy probability to see if he can do the job.
Merchandise Three: Maple Leafs Particular Groups Got here Up Quick
One of many defining themes of final evening’s loss was Toronto’s lack of ability to remain out of the penalty field. Max Domi and Conor Timmins took early penalties, and Montreal didn’t take lengthy to capitalize. Cole Caufield’s power-play objective, arrange by a easy tic-tac-toe passing sequence, stood because the game-winner.
The Maple Leafs’ penalty kill did a strong job the remainder of the evening, however these early penalties disrupted their circulate and handed the Canadiens momentum. Berube will undoubtedly need to clear up the crew’s self-discipline heading into their subsequent video games.
Toronto generated loads of offence, hitting the publish 4 instances, with notable possibilities generated by Nylander, Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (who appeared good many of the sport). But, regardless of firing 48 photographs, the crew couldn’t get one previous Montembeault.
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Extra regarding, nonetheless, was the Maple Leafs’ energy play. Toronto had 4 possibilities with the person benefit, however the unit appeared stagnant and ineffective. Even with a revised solid, the person benefit resembled final season’s playoff struggles. With the identical core group on the ice, together with Morgan Rielly on the purpose, the crew’s energy play has but to indicate enchancment.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs might want to regroup shortly, as they face the New Jersey Devils tonight. With a tough begin of their opener, the crew will look to appropriate their energy play, enhance self-discipline, and get some manufacturing from their prime gamers—particularly after quiet video games from Tavares and Matthews.
Anthony Stolarz’s sturdy efficiency provides the Maple Leafs a possible goaltending choice ought to Woll stay out, however the crew might want to discover methods to generate objectives in the event that they hope to keep away from beginning the season 0-2. Can they beat Jacob Markstrom on the street? The potential is there for a few low-scoring video games in a row. Markstrom can steal a sport if Toronto doesn’t jump-start its offence.
