How fast things change in the NHL when it comes to the centre of the hockey universe. On Tuesday Garret Sparks was a saviour who came in to shut out the Oilers in his professional debut, the first ever for a Leafs player. Remember it was the Oilers so perspective is needed. Yesterday he was lit up for 6 goals with 4 coming in the 3rd period as the lacklustre Leafs visited the MTS Centre.
The Leafs opened the scoring on a deft play that had Jets fans concerned that another defence nightmare was about to unfold. That fear was short-lived as 6 minutes later the Jets tied it up with Stafford's first from a slick pass via Mark Schiefele in what was a brutal breakdown of coverage by Toronto. Stafford made it 2-1 later on the PP when he corralled an Ehlers ricochet off the cross bar and banked it off Phaneuf, who was either trying to cover the net on one knee or stretching.
The line of Perreault, Scheifele and Stafford was buzzing all night and made life downright miserable for the Leafs defence structure. The line combined for 3 goals and 7 points and essentially won the game for the Jets but the Leafs were feeling the holiday spirit as they gave up much more.
The line of Thorburn, Burmistrov and Ehlers had some 'jam' too, and as in the previous games Ehlers and Bumistrov nearly connected for some potential highlight reel plays. That combo is going to get better but it wouldn't hurt if they had a bit more talented winger on the other side. That being said, Thorburn had a good game last night and kept up with his mates.
Connor Hellebuyck let in one goal but that wouldn't be an accurate assessment of his play. While he kept the Leafs at bay during their few dangerous attacks he struggled a bit with covering the puck, rebound control and his glove. Perhaps there were some nerves in his first home game in the NHL but it's something that needs correcting. A more capable team than the Leafs would have made Hellebuyck and the Jets pay for those errors.
The Jets did provide Hellebuyck with excellent back checking, frequently getting the puck away from the Leafs in scoring areas as they pondered what to do. In the end though, the Jets were too much for Sparks and the Leafs as the attacks gradually wore down the Leafs. You know it's bad when late in the game the 4th line centre, Andrew Copp can weave his way through from the neutral zone to feed a streaking Peluso who potted his first of the year in stylish fashion.
If I'm a Leafs fan, and coach Mike Babcock, I really have to question what Dion Phaneuf does on the ice that helps this team. Sure last night might have been a 'bad' game for him (it was awful) but he frequently seems confused by how to play defence. On Sunday I was in a coaching course run by Hockey Canada and the instructor was a 20-year veteran of HC and is one of the key Manitoba mentors for coaching development in the province. In the video portions of the class he used 3 examples of how not to do things in terms or checking, coverage and stick control and Phaneuf was his example in each one.
Sure this is nothing new to Leafs fans, but when you have just seen his play broken down and analyzed it was fascinating to watch live 3 days later. The Jets exposed his gap control, lack of reading the play and swiftness with precision and it paid off. Phaneuf was on the ice for 4 goals against yet he was not beaten badly from a possession stand point. The way I see it is that when he screws up, particularly last night, it's really costing his team. Again probably no surprise to Leafs fans.
So does the game change things for the Jets as they have two days off before their next game after a brutal month of road trips? Is scoring 6 goals a release of tension and stress that can help the team loosen up in the future?
The Jets host the Capitals on Saturday before going to Chicago for a game on Sunday. Best guess is that Hellebuyck starts Saturday and Hutchinson attempts to again be the mongoose to Chicago's snake in the windy city.