“By far, it was our best effort in last couple months, but no reward for it.” Head coach Randy Carlyle said in the aftermath of the Leafs 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. “We got no complaints with the work ethic of our group, we executed from a defensive standpoint, we made good breakout passes and we attacked and forechecked, but we didn’t win. Simple as that.”
Unlike most of their 31 previous games, Toronto was successful at limiting their opponent’s shots on goal(allowing only 23 shots on Jonathan Bernier), were more successful in winning puck battles to maintain possession of the puck and moved the puck effectively out of the defensive zone against the weary Kings, who were playing their second of back-to-back games.
The Leafs were thwarted by rookie netminder Martin Jones, who made 38 saves to maintain a perfect 4-0 record in the NHL since being recalled in mid-November.
In spite of Toronto’s heightened effort and improved play, the loss was a result of the problems that have plagued them since the end of October. The Leafs woeful penalty killing surrendered a goal in their ninth straight game, as Peter Holland’s holding penalty led to Drew Doughty opening goal on the power play midway through the first.
The Leafs power play produced the tying goal late in the middle frame, as Cody Franson scored his first of the season during a lengthy two-man advantage.
The Leafs defense played much better than expected without team captain Dion Phaneuf, who missed the game serving the first of his two game suspension. Franson and Jake Gardiner both saw over 20 minutes of ice time, rookie Morgan Rielly was composed and moved the puck effectively after being a healthy scratch the last three games and veterans Carl Gunnarsson and Mark Fraser were solid.
In the third, Toronto had a number of offensive chances and swarmed the Kings zone, but while pressing for the go-ahead tally, defenseman Paul Ranger made an ill-advised pinch and was not able to get the puck past the Kings defender. That led to an odd man counterattack going the other way and Jeff Carter scoring the game winner.
“Bad decision,” Carlyle said. “We had three guys at the net and a 1-1 game with 10 minutes left.”
Ranger was again the chink in the Leafs armor, as he was -2 in 17:29 on the night and had other close calls, including Kings captain Dustin Brown walking around the Toronto blueliner to nearly score the go-ahead goal in the waning moments of the second.
The loss was looked upon by many as a moral victory by the Leafs, as they stepped up their effort and exceeded expectations without their top defenseman and two top centers available, but there is no column in the standings or extra points earned for moral victories. Toronto is 2-3-0 in December after finishing under .500 in November and will need to repeat that effort and convert it into success as they face St. Louis and Chicago(the two top teams in the Central Division) on Thursday and Saturday.
“We have to use it as a starting point.” Carlyle said.
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The firing of GM Jay Feaster in Calgary could have an impact on the current management structure of the Maple Leafs.
Calgary President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke announced the firing of Feaster and assistant John Weisbrod at a press conference Thursday morning and stated that he will not be taking over as the permanent GM and has started a search for Feaster’s replacement already. Burke has already received permission to speak to one candidate and will request permission for others throughout the league in the next few days.
Toronto assistants Dave Poulin and Claude Loiselle will likely be among a group of names to be interviewed for the vacant GM job.
Burke’s track record has been to surround himself with people who he has a previous relationship with. He did during his four years in Toronto, adding former Canucks GM Dave Nonis, who was his assistant in both Vancouver and Anaheim and Loiselle,who was a scout for Burke with the Anaheim Ducks and worked for the NHL before joining the Leafs in 2010.
Poulin was hired by the former Toronto GM after coaching Notre Dame University for 10 years.
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The Maple Leafs flew out late Wednesday night for St. Louis, as they take former Toronto first rounder Alex Steen and the Blues on Thursday night. Toronto cancelled their Thursday morning skate in the Gateway to the West, but it is expected that James Reimer will get the start in goal in the second of back-to-back games.
The 29-year-old Steen, the Leafs 24th overall selection in 2002, is tied with Anaheim's Corey Perry for second in the league with 21 goals, trailing Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, who has 26 on the season.
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Here is the video of the preparations at the University of Michigan Stadium for the upcoming Winter Classic.
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