The Toronto Maple Leafs are at a crossroads. After a tough 4-2 loss to Ottawa, there are mixed feelings surrounding the team’s performance. On one hand, they had plenty of scoring chances. In fact, they outshot the Senators and generated more high-danger chances. On the other hand, when the team goes down by a goal or two, there’s a sense that they won’t be able to come back. As the Maple Leafs fight for playoff positioning, we want to break down the key takeaways from the game and what’s next for the team.
The Maple Leafs Scoring Chances Are There, But the Puck Isn’t Going In
Despite a 30-18 shot advantage and a 12-8 lead in high-danger chances, the Maple Leafs couldn’t get the puck in the net against Ottawa. The natural belief is that the goals will eventually come with continued pressure. However, fans are starting to feel another kind of pressure. Ignoring the sense of inevitability when the team falls behind is becoming more challenging.
The key takeaway is that Toronto generates plenty of chances but must consistently finish them. If they cannot, how can they turn things around?
The Maple Leafs Big Five Need to Step Up
The Maple Leafs need one of their star players to take charge and lead by example. While we’ve seen flashes from the likes of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and Mitch Marner, they haven’t been able to dominate consistently. This team seems to lack a player who can take control of the game when the going gets tough.
For the Maple Leafs to thrive, they need one of their stars to step up and be the difference-maker, much like we’ve seen from the NHL’s top players on other teams. Nylander did that on the game’s first goal, simply deciding to take it to the net. He did. But it didn’t happen again.
Questioning Toronto Lineup Decisions: Spreading the Top Four Thin
Another issue is whether spreading the Maple Leafs’ top four forwards across three lines is the right call. Splitting up Matthews, Nylander, Marner, and Tavares creates mismatches by putting them with players who aren’t at the same level. The result? Players like Nylander and Matthews often look isolated on the ice, struggling to connect.
An alternative could be reuniting these players on two main lines, like Matthews-Nylander and Tavares-Marner, and adjusting mid-game when needed. With the top players getting more minutes together, they’ll have a better chance of being impactful.
Holmburg’s Role on the Fourth Line – Why Does He Shine There?
One player that stood out in the Ottawa game was Pontus Holmberg. His energy and playmaking were key on the fourth line, and he seemed more comfortable there than in any other role. When he moves up the lineup, his game doesn’t seem to have the same impact.
The truth is that he thrives in a bottom-six role. As Toronto continues to search for chemistry, keeping Holmberg on the fourth line could be a more effective strategy than experimenting with him on the top lines.
What Now for the Maple Leafs?
With 16 games left in the season, the Maple Leafs find themselves in a tie for second place with Tampa Bay, just four points behind Florida. There’s still time to turn things around, but they must find consistency – particularly from their stars.
The team must continue generating chances but also focus on finishing plays. If the big names can step up and the right line combinations are made, Toronto still has the tools to make a deep playoff run. However, they’ll need to address their issues quickly to avoid falling further behind in the standings. Time’s ticking, and they have stuff to figure out in the coming weeks.
[Note: I’d like to thank Stan Smith for his help with this post.]
