UPDATE: Per Paul Hendrick of Leafs TV:
Leafs forward Tyler Bozak sustained an upper body injury at practice in Winnipeg today and will be a game time decision according to Coach Ron Wilson.
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With just under 11 minutes remaining in the third period, the Maple Leafs appeared to have things well in hand. Goals by Nikolai Kulemin and Joffrey Lupul put the visitors up by two goals over Carolina, a team that has had problems winning at the RBC Center all season.
Toronto needed only to play a smart, boring, safe defensive game for the last half of the period to earn a crucial two points, but playing smart hockey is something that this young club finds impossible to do.
Within three minutes, the game was tied because of a couple collective defensive breakdowns, momentum swung back to the home team and after barely holding on for the end of regulation, the game was lost in overtime when Eric Staal blasted a one-timer on the power play past James Reimer.
The loss by Toronto was costly. Winnipeg’s win over the Los Angeles Kings moves them in a three way tie with the New Jersey Devils and Leafs for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but five teams are trailing the three clubs by six points or less.
The post-Christmas losses to Florida and Carolina have accentuated the Leafs problems areas; special teams and defensive decision making.
Since the beginning of the season, Coach Ron Wilson has preached for his defense to get more involved in the offensive attack, either by carrying the puck into the zone or jumping into the attack as a trailer. The Leafs have benefited from this strategy, as they are currently fourth in the East with 116 goals for(behind Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) but this tactic is high-risk and has consistently bit Toronto in the foot, as they have given up 122 goals against; 16 goals more than any other team currently in a playoff spot.
On Tuesday, Luke Schenn’s mad offensive dash in the third period resulted in a turnover and eventual insurance goal by Tomas Fleischmann, while Jake Gardiner’s puzzling positioning in the second period led to the Panthers’ Bill Thomas scoring on a clear cut breakaway mere seconds after Mikhail Grabovski had tied the game.
Last night, the pairing of Keith Aulie and Dion Phaneuf was primarily responsible for the late breakdown. After Lupul’s goal, the big rangy sophomore decided to try to keep the puck in the Carolina zone, rather than playing it safe and falling back. Phaneuf did not recognize Aulie’s precarious position and failed to adjust, which resulted in Staal breaking in unopposed from his own blueline to get the Canes back into the game.
The tying goal was even more of a head scratcher, as Phaneuf failed to clear the zone, Aulie chased Staal behind the net and four defenders looked on as a pair of Carolina forwards jabbed away at the loose puck until Zac Dalpe shoveled it past Reimer.
Even after being burned twice, Toronto did not learn their lesson. Late in the period while on the power play, point man Carl Gunnarsson drifted down close to the net to be an outlet for a Phil Kessel pass, but the puck was turned over, which resulted in a 3 on 1 short handed break with Reimer making a big stop on Staal.
The Leafs are clearly missing the presence of veterans John-Michael Liles and Mike Komisarek. In the three games that he has been out of the lineup, the first power play unit with Tim Connolly and Carl Gunnarsson replacing him has not registered a goal.
In spite of all the criticism, Komisarek played well and provided a steadying influence and needed toughness on the blueline.
The current road trip ends tomorrow night with a New Year’s Eve match against Winnipeg, after which the Leafs embark on a critical part of the season, with nine of the twelve January games at the ACC. If they hold any aspirations of making the playoffs, they must start making better decisions, solve the ineptitude of their special teams and play dominant on home ice.
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