The Toronto Maple Leafs will at times be entertaining this season and have the look of a team capable of challenging for a playoff spot, but those positives will be counterbalanced by inexperienced players learning how to play and a roster still in short on talent in key areas struggling with consistency.
If Leafs fans needed to be reminded of that after an exciting season opening loss to Ottawa last week, they got it in a 5-4 overtime defeat to the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Center on Wednesday.
Toronto had a comfortable 4-0 lead after Connor Carrick and Nazem Kadri scored in the opening period and William Nylander and Kadri followed up with two power play goals early in the second, but defensive miscues and an uneven performance from Frederik Andersen allowed the Jets to climb back into the game, scoring three times in the third to tie the game and Patrik Laine’s hat trick winner at 2:40 of overtime.
The Leafs benefited early from their blueline taking offensive chances, as Carrick jumped into the offensive attack to cash in a Michael Hutchinson rebound for his first of the season and Morgan Rielly going behind the Winnipeg net to feed Kadri for his first goal, but those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Jake Gardiner got caught pinching twice in the middle frame and the second instance led to an odd-man break and Tyler Myers goal that got the Jets on the board.
Andersen faced 34 shots on the night, but was beaten twice in the third on shots high to the blocker/stick side. Martin Marincin failed to tie up Laine in front of the net and the second-overall pick scored one minute into the third to make it 4-2 and Rielly’s inability to clear the puck out of the Toronto zone led to Mark Scheifele’s tally five minutes later.
With Rielly in the penalty box and Hutchinson pulled for an extra attacker, the Leafs were unable to clear the puck after winning the faceoff and Nikolaj Ehlers set up Laine for a one-timer blast that beat Andersen to tie it with 55 seconds left in regulation.
Toronto had a chance to win in overtime, as Auston Matthews was stymied by Hutchinson on a breakaway, but Winnipeg completed the comeback as Laine fired a wrist shot over Andersen’s glove for the winner.
“One(off a) lost faceoff, second one we block a shot and it bounced right to their guy. I didn't think (Winnipeg’s attack) was wave after wave, and I thought we had our chances. In saying that, you've got to find a way to take care of the puck, you've got to find a way to play in the offensive zone and keep attacking.” Head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “We always talk about trying to play like the game is tied so you're always going for the next one. That way you stay on your toes.”
The Leafs will hope to bounce back from their loss in their second of back-to-back road games against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul on Thursday.
Goalie Jhonas Enroth is expected to get his first start for Toronto and according to Leafs TV’s Paul Hendrick, Roman Polak may see his first action of the season, possibly replacing Marincin in the lineup (who went -2 in 24:47 TOI on Wednesday), but extra forward Seth Griffith is not expected to see action.
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Veteran forward Brooks Laich was demoted to the Toronto Marlies last week, but did not play in either of their victories over Utica last weekend and it is unknown whether he will play for the AHL affiliate in Rochester on Friday or back-to-back games against Manitoba on Saturday and Sunday.
We’re talking with (Laich), talking with the Leafs as well. (We’ll) make the decision on what’s the right situation for him (and) what’s the right situation for us. Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe said to TSN’s Kristen Shilton. “We want to see where both he and the Leafs are at and make our decision from there.”
The former Washington Capitals forward was expected to make the Leafs as a fourth line role player, but was waived and sent down to the AHL to get Toronto to the 23-man roster limit. The 33-year-old is in the final year of a six-year, $27 Million contract.
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