The Toronto Maple Leafs are getting key contributions from some unexpected places—and it’s starting to look less like luck and more like smart scouting and coaching. Last night, two Maple Leafs blue line members were a key part of the team’s 3-2 victory in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Ottawa Senators.
Blue-Liner Morgan Rielly: Leading by Example
Morgan Rielly has been a standout for the Maple Leafs early in the postseason, scoring in each of the first two games of the series. His goal in Game 2 was a reminder of his offensive capabilities—driving to the net and finishing off a slick pass from William Nylander for a tap-in.
This marks his second goal in as many games, and he’s now tied for the most playoff goals by a defenseman in franchise history. It’s clear Rielly is elevating his game during the postseason. Still, that happened last postseason as well, so no real surprise.
Blue-Liner Simon Benoit’s Unexpected Offensive Role
But it wasn’t just Rielly who stepped up on the blue line. Simon Benoit, typically known for his steady, stay-at-home defensive play, surprised everyone by rushing the puck up the ice in overtime. It’s not a typical move for Benoit, and even TV analysts questioned if he had lost his place on the ice.
One television analyst even wondered what Benoit was doing taking the offensive risk, concerned he might have gotten out of position. But the rush led directly to Max Domi’s game-winning goal. Benoit’s rare offensive contribution highlighted how the Maple Leafs’ defensemen are becoming a central part of the offensive strategy in this series.
Have the Maple Leafs Scouted the Senators and Found an Effective Strategy?
Instead of this defensive contribution to the team’s offense being a one-off, could it be likely that the Maple Leafs’ coaching staff has scouted Ottawa’s defensive weaknesses and adjusted accordingly? While the Senators have played solid five-on-five hockey, even outplaying the Maple Leafs over these two games, Toronto’s secondary scoring, especially from the blue line, has been a game-changer. This isn’t a typical element of the Maple Leafs’ game, but the depth scoring has presented an overwhelming challenge for Ottawa.
Ottawa is struggling to contain this added layer of offense, which is creating enormous difficulties for its defense. With Rielly and Benoit stepping up and contributions from other defensemen, the Maple Leafs are now a tougher team to stop, especially in transition and at even strength.
Over the next few games of the series, it will be interesting to see if this is a coaching decision explicitly instituted for the Senators. If so, it’s been working.
