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The Toronto Maple Leafs had a chance to put some distance between them and the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division, but have failed to seize the opportunity to put them away on their California road swing. Florida followed up their loss to Toronto last week with back-to-back defeats against Chicago and Calgary last weekend, and earned a loser point in a 2-1 overtime loss to Boston on Thursday.
After a regulation loss in San Jose earlier in the week, the Leafs followed up with a solid road effort against the Los Angeles Kings and got great goaltending from Frederik Andersen, but could not get a puck past two-time Cup winner Jonathan Quick in a 1-0 shootout loss at Staples Center.
Andersen made 30 saves, including some of the spectacular variety with the Leafs short-handed in overtime, but that effort was wasted by their inability to convert on numerous scoring chances on Quick, who only allowed Nylander’s shootout attempt to beat him in the contest, while Andersen was beaten by Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
“I think they were 0-for-3 on breakaways, so the guys that are missing those type of chances, you can see there's a little frustration setting in, but in terms of the way the game was going, I thought we managed it okay.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “(The Kings are) going to make it hard on you, you know that going into the game and they did that at times. I thought we stayed with it, (Andersen) was outstanding for us. We just couldn't find a way to get one in. Tonight is a night where we need our power play to be the difference. So if there's an area we'd like to certainly be better in, that would be it.…
Toronto was only able to generate four shots on three opportunities with the man advantage, which was equaled by their number of chances on the penalty kill.
“I thought it was a pretty even hockey game all the way through. I thought our team did a good job in the game, especially as we got through that first period, staying with the process just with the way that they play, clogging the neutral zone and defend really well.… Keefe said. “It's a game that really could have gone either way. We're happy to get one point, we could have two in overtime or the shootout, it didn't go our way in that sense, but not a lot to complain about for us as a group.… The Leafs have squandered chances to add points throughout the season, most recently losses to the Panthers, Sabres and Sharks in which they led or were tied entering the third period. Equally as glaring is their 1-5 record in shootouts. For a club that is second in the NHL in goals scored to not be able have some success in a breakaway contest is puzzling and could contribute to their demise.
Frederik Andersen with an incredible save pic.twitter.com/PPU0p3qbR1
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 6, 2020
The Leafs complete their back-to-back in Southern California with a match against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Backup Jack Campbell will get the start for Toronto and any lineup changes will not be known until before the game, since the club did not take to the ice, but the activation of Cody Ceci from injured reserve could mean that the veteran blueliner will return in place of rookie Timothy Liljegren.
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Pregame Podcast. Enjoy.@MikeInBuffalo @TheLeafsConvo #LeafsForever #TheLeafsConvo #LAKings #NHL https://t.co/OPAWy0T2tE
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) March 5, 2020
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