The Toronto Maple Leafs have proved they can produce offensively and that when asked can play more responsible defensively, the question with two weeks to go in the regular season is whether they can do both at the same time.
The Leafs were once again stymied by New York Rangers backup goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, who followed up a 55-save victory against Toronto last month with a 44-save effort in a 2-1 overtime victory for the Broadway Blueshirts at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
After going scoreless in the first two periods, Pavel Buchnevich gave New York the lead 18 seconds into the third. Zach Hyman tied the game with his 19th of the season, but the Leafs were unable to get another past the Bulgarian backup, who faced 20 shots in the final frame of regulation.
Toronto had opportunities to get the win in overtime, but with Auston Matthews changing, the combo of Boo Nieves and Ryan Strome went in on a two-on-one break, Frederik Andersen made a spectacular left pad save on Nieves, but Strome retrieved the puck and tucked it in the back door for the win.
“We had lots of good players, we didn't score. We had empty nets and the whole works, so we've got to bear down. We've got a number of guys who haven't scored in a bit. The way I look at that is that's usually going to change.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “I thought we did a lot of good things tonight, I didn't think we got in our own way. Obviously, a disappointing way to end. I didn't think we were as good tonight as we've been in the last two games, but I still thought we had lots of opportunity.”
Following their stretch of allowing nearly six goals-per-game, Toronto devoted significant effort in the defensive end of the ice, limiting Nashville to 20 shots on goal, Buffalo to 24 and the Rangers to 28, but in those three games, the Leafs scored four goals on 113 shots (one being an empty net goal vs. Buffalo) and went 0-for-9 on the power play.
(Playing better defensively is) the key thing for us. We know it, it continues to be a huge thing that we have to work on to get better at. We've talked about it every day and we'll continue to talk about it. I'd like to get us a little more rhythm so we feel better. Tonight feels better if you win, that's the bottom line, but I like the process we're in and I like how hard guys work.”
An area that continues to be a concern as the first round series against Boston approaches is Toronto’s lack of pushback. In the third period, Rangers defenseman Marc Staal cross-checked John Tavares in the crease, injuring the Leafs center, who struggled to the bench after the whistle had been blown.
Toronto’s inability to draw penalties and their inconsistent power play fail to act as a deterrent against a team playing a physical style, which means that the Bruins will have nearly free reign to take runs at the Leafs core players without much of a response.
With the loss of a point and the Bruins 7-3 win over Florida, the Leafs fall seven points in back of Boston with seven games to go. With just one back-to-back remaining this season, it will be interesting to see how Mike Babcock manages Andersen’s workload over the next two weeks and whether he will give his starter more rest leading into the playoffs.
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