|
Leafs attempt at ‘playoff style’ hockey fails in loss to Blue Jackets |
|
|
|
|
|
For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
The only way you get good at something is to do it over and over again until you get it right. That may be the approach taken by the coaching staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs in recent weeks, as the club has changed is attempting to change their style from the free-wheeling, wide open offensive hockey they played early in the year, to a more disciplined system that limits the chances of their opposition (but also limits their opportunities as well).
The Maple Leafs appeared to have things well in hand on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Leafs led 2-0 late in the third period on goals from James van Riemsdyk and William Nylander against a team playing in the second of back-to-back nights, and had Frederik Andersen standing on his head.
The latter half of the third period was a mirror image of the Leafs two goal rally against Vancouver on Saturday. Toronto pressed for the coup de grace and pelted Sergei Bobrovsky with 11 shots, but could not get another by the Blue Jackets goalie before Nick Foligno’s odd goal got Columbus on the scoreboard with 4:35 left.
Morgan Rielly, who used the stretch pass to great effect on Tyler Bozak’s tying goal against the Canucks, had a similar pass intercepted by Seth Jones, leading to a counter attack and Pierre-Luc Dubois’s equalizer with 2:47 left.
“Some nights when you're ahead, you get on your heels and the other team takes it to you, that wasn't the case at all.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “It actually was the opposite way around. They scored on the opportunities that we gave them.”
Artemi Panarin completed the comeback with his 11th goal of the season in overtime to give the Blue Jackets their second win over the Leafs this season.
Two aspects of a team being able to play ‘playoff style’ hockey effectively is to start games strong in order to jump on the opposition and get an early lead and to be able to limit the opposition’s scoring chances late in the game.
Toronto did neither of those on Monday, as the club started slow, really did not get moving until the second period and appeared to be more focused on adding to their two-goal lead late in regulation instead of preserving it.
“The first 30 (minutes is) really what we’re going to need to focus on. It was okay at best (against) a team coming in back-to-back. We’re at home for a good stretch here (and) the first 30 was really not great. A lot of penalty kills and just not much (offensive) zone time.” defenseman Ron Hainsey said after the game.
We made some great plays in the third where we had some odd man rushes. I think maybe three two-on-ones and some other stuff. (The Columbus defense) are always active, but they really kicked it in in the third period to try and get it going. We had some chances but couldn’t finish.”
Rookie Travis Dermott saw an increased role in his second NHL game, playing mostly with Jake Gardiner on the second defensive pairing. The 21-year-old played 16:21 and had two shots on goal and covered up for his wayward partner in the first period when Gardiner was caught pinching at the blueline.
The Leafs play the struggling Ottawa Senators at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday before getting their scheduled five-day bye week.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»