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Facing The Killer Instinct Question After Loss To Habs; Leafs Vs. Islanders

January 23, 2023, 5:49 PM ET [414 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday served as a trigger for PTSD to fans of Leafs Nation who are concerned that in spite of the club’s regular season success, they will repeat the same traps when the playoffs roll around.

The Leafs took an early 2-0 lead on goals from Mark Giordano and Calle Jarnkrok, but took their foot off the gas pedal, allowing the short-handed Habs to dominate the middle frame, outshooting Toronto 18-8 and evening the score on goals by Josh Anderson and Rafael Harvey-Pinard, and winning on Rem Pitlick’s overtime goal.



“We played a great first period. We were in complete control of the game. I thought the first couple of shifts of the second period were good, too. We just let up a little bit.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “This is a team that if you give them life and a chance, they are going to come hard on you. They did in the second.”

One sign of a team being ready for postseason success is not only beating their contemporaries at the top of the standings but also being able to stomp on squads at the bottom. There are always exceptions here or there when Arizona beats Boston, but in Toronto’s case, nearly one-third of their 19 games losses in regulation or overtime has been to Montreal (26th overall), San Jose (28th), Arizona (29th), and Anaheim (31st), which is similar to what they did last season.

The Leafs lack of attention to detail has come up at the worst possible times (losing eight games in overtime and shootouts, and a late loss in Boston). It is tough to be unsatisfied with a team currently tied for 3rd in NHL standings, but Toronto’s regular season success is almost meaningless unless it is followed up with playoff glory.

Whether that result comes to pass will have to wait until April.

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The Leafs made a couple of roster moves in advance of the beginning of their five-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Monday. The club placed forward Dryden Hunt on waivers on Sunday and will not know his disposition until 2 pm. On Monday, Pontus Holmberg was recalled from the AHL Marlies and took his regular spot centering the fourth line with Zach Aston-Reese and Bobby McMann.



McMann appears to have earned a longer look after playing mostly third line duty with David Kampf and Pierre Engvall, which could be the reason for Hunt being placed on waivers. There will be no changes on defense, with TJ Brodie still recovering from a rib injury, but Keefe said that the veteran blueliner may play before the All-Star break.

Ilya Samsonov, who was sharp in a 28-save effort on Saturday, will get his third straight start.

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