Follow me on Twitter Follow @TheJeremyLaura
Last Night’s comeback win was a pleasant surprise. However, the start and the reality of facing last year’s best power play tonight have me concerned about a much bumpier ride to end the preseason.
Game Summary: Austin Matthews, for me, has the best wrist shot I’ve ever seen. Possibly the best I’ll ever see. It’s unpredictable, fast and he gets the pucks off quickly. How on earth has this team not made it past the first round of the playoffs? Bad timing? Or is there so much more offensive talent than defense and goaltending? Dollar wise, that’s quite possibly the issue.
Knowing that most of the main roster would suit up for Toronto and that Detroit would be sending a large portion of the Griffins roster the result is not surprising. In all honestly, it could have been worse. Full marks for a strong effort in net on an impossible night.
Muzzin got a nasty (and uncalled) shot to the mouth but I’ll call that the “hockey payback… for a slew foot on Mantha that broke a rib and went uncalled. Somehow, hockey balances itself out. The problem for the Leafs is that Muzzin is a key piece and is making more and more frequent trips to the pain train. He’ll play through as much or more as anyone. But, for this team to do more in the post season that blue line has to get a boost. That means a sacrifice up front.
Was Tavares a necessary signing? Was it too much to keep both he and Nylander (who looks amazing out there). Did a lack of patience cost this team, or did Tampa Bay just come on at the wrong time? If the stat I heard earlier is true, Toronto hasn’t been past round one since 2004. So far, Matthews has had way too much time in the summer. He has 2 years left on the current deal and I’m surprised there hasn’t been more staff turnover.
Regardless, for the regular season, this is a team that will fill your net at a shameless pace if you give them power play time and too much space. It’s fun to watch, but the commentary during intermission doesn’t seem as concerned about the lack of post season success. Where are you at? Is there a stud D man they should send a very talented player not named Matthews out of town for? Or, is this the year. Dust off the parade route you made when Matthews was drafted and go. Either way, they’ve had their way with Detroit quite a bit lately. A regular season improvement would be a good sign that Yzerman is ramping up in the right direction.
First Period: At 5:10 the league’s top tier power play got a shot against last year’s worst PK. Good fast movement from Toronto. Marner is constantly moving and passing while Matthews gets himself setup. Not a bad system. Good effort from the Detroit squad as Toronto missed on a couple of open chances.
One thing becoming abundantly clear, Toronto at some point may need to sacrifice in a trade for a top/younger Dman. Muzzin is starting to break down and is a big part of the game plan. The “rush to the cup… hasn’t seen the Leafs get out of the first round of the playoffs. While goaltending gets the lions share of the blame, after round one, you need everyone playing defense. With Tavares on the shelf, it looks more and more like that signing just overloaded the front fiscally and in terms of talent. Matthews is a generational player but the rush to rebuild may have wasted some precious years. The team has seen far too many first round game 7s and not enough round 2 game 1s.
Toronto is a team I think will get premium $ for jersey ads. That could help a lot.
At around 12 minutes, Berggren banks one off the pipe, the Wings regain possession and open the scoring as Suter scored at around 11:33.
Muzzin caught a high stick undetected and his mouth is a mess. But, same player that slew footed Mantha a few years ago and broke a rib with no penalty. It’s a nasty game sometimes.
William Nylander literally walked right into the Wings zone and scores as easily as if it was an empty net. When he’s going, he’s a lot to deal with and another sign that Toronto can dump some offense for some help on the Blue Line.
McIsaac is making some bad decisions late in the first. Mind the gap or this team will embarrass you.
Wings draw a double minor on a far les egregious play than Muzzin suffered through but it happens. The bigger concern for the Leafs should be that Muzzin is in the “hurt cycle…. That constant string of injuries that signals players that Father Time is right there and watching closely. There is so much scoring talent on this team, but even if they break every regular season record they set will it mean anything if they’re not at least in the final four? I was sure Keefe would be gone with one more early exit.
First Period Red Wings Goals: Pius Suter scores after Berggren gets the post
Pius with a perfectly placed shot! #LGRW
— ]Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 8, 2022
Tune in >> https://t.co/HCmXMdfiSe pic.twitter.com/19HY0vcb7p
Second Period: Detroit fails to create any offense on the remaining power play time. Austin Mathews continues to look dangerous every time he’s near the puck. He’s had far too many good looks that should already have burned Detroit.
At the 11:55 mark of the second Dennis Malgin takes a pass and just cuts through the defense for a beautiful top shelf goal. If this is a game where Detroit players are trying to avoid a ticket to GR, it’s not looking good. Goaltending has covered up for some nasty missed assignments. You almost expect the Leaf players to pat the visitors on the head with a, “good effort… type sentiment.
Second Period Red Wings goals: No second period Detroit goals
Third Period: In no time at all Toronto added two goals to the lead. This is the reality of a mostly minor league GR team against a team with a glut of offensive talent. Regular season, average goal tending is enough for Toronto to take over. Matthews has 2 seasons left on his current deal. Arguably the best wrist shot I’ve ever seen or will ever see.
Wings get another shot at the power play at 10:22. Good puck movement but Murray is up to the task. Engvall gets a short handed attempt at around the 12 minute mark. At this point I think most waiver exempt players are heading to GR. Givani Smith has had some fans excited at times but he is a physical force and a depth player.
Matthews scores a nice hull-esque goal on the power play. 5-1 Toronto.
Third Period Red Wings goals: No third period Detroit goals