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Win or lose, the Maple Leafs haven’t done anything half way in the past couple of weeks.

It goes without saying that this was a major improvement from Toronto. The Leafs transition game was much better than it was against Nashville, helped by some pretty loose play through neutral ice by Tampa Bay. To the Leafs credit, there was less cheating and the D were getting the puck into the forwards’ hands a little quicker, enabling the Leafs to play a faster game overall (one of the Leafs‘ biggest issues is that they’re a fast team that doesn’t play like it often enough). Turnovers were way down from the disgrace that was the 9-2 loss on Tuesday.

The Leafs bucked their bad start trend with a high-tempo start keyed by the third line particular. A bonus contribution from the fourth line combined with the return to life from a recently-quiet James van Riemsdyk, who scored a pair, put the Leafs well on their way in this game. After they opened the scoring, there was a point half way through the first period where the third line, Winnik with Clarkson and Holland, generated a lengthy spell of cycling and the Leafs managed to bring a whole line of fresh legs into the cycle (their top line) for a few minutes of continuous offensive zone time. It had been since very early in the Buffalo game that we had last seen the Leafs accomplish that type of sustained pressure.

Most fans likely reacted similarly after Jake Gardiner gave the puck away on the powerplay before Jonathan Bernier let in a soft one near the end of the first — “here we go again.” There is something demoralizing about giving up a shorthanded goal and coming out of a good first period tied as a result. The Leafs, to their credit, seemed to brush it off at intermission and bounced back to carry an edge in play in the 2nd.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, for what it’s worth, was scathing when it came to his team’s effort tonight: “We executed like it was the first day of training camp.”

It’s hard to shed the feeling that part of this team’s consistency issues is the on and off nature of the top line as currently constituted, but tonight it was much better. Whether this justifies keeping it together game in, game out is a debate that will rage on, at this rate possibly all season long.

leafs lightning shot location chart

leafs vs bolts

Player Notes

Tyler Bozak – Didn’t think he played that well in the run of play, some missed passes and he was caught up ice a few times, but to his credit he took a resounding 30 faceoffs and won 73% of them. Draw win helped create the JvR powerplay goal, and he grabbed two primary assists – one on JvR’s shot off the rush and the other off another draw win leading to Polak’s empty netter from the defensive zone.

Nazem Kadri – Going to be hard for Kadri to put up the points expected of him when he’s playing 13 minutes and on the 2nd PP unit. Drew two penalties in this game but isn’t getting to reap the rewards. FWIW, was a 35% Corsi For tonight.

Josh Leivo – A good stick on the forecheck forced the Lightning to reverse the play behind their net before Matt Carle airmailed a pizza into Panik’s lap in front of the net for his goal. Played just 5:57 – interestingly got similar ice time against Nashville despite the crazy-lop-sided scoreline. Doesn’t seem to matter what he does in those five minutes or even the score of the game, he plays the same amount.

Richard Panik – Some good patience to take his time and cut it around the sprawling Ben Bishop for his goal against his old team. Eight minutes and change is something closer to reasonable minutes for a 4th liner.

Dion Phaneuf – A much better game from Phaneuf. His physical game rises appreciably when he’s playing in a major matchup and he got Stamkos jawing at him a few times, once after burying him after the whistle. It’s hard not to notice moments where his seemingly declining footspeed leads to ugly moments, but he played a relatively clean, hard game and picked up an assist for his troubles.

Daniel Winnik – Just what the doctor ordered early in the first period. The only way to get yourself out of a rut is to put your head down and go to work. Winnik did just that by beating out an icing and firing a great pass out to Clarkson for the 1-0 goal — It was a pretty big goal given the two games previous and the Leafs’ early-season struggles with poor starts.

Leo Komarov – Very effective along with Winnik on the PK as always, especially in pressuring the puck up ice and preventing easy entries which is arguably more than half the battle. Took one offensive zone penalty but more than made up for it in other areas, and in a brief moment where he was on the ice with Kessel he sent him in on a breakaway that Phil didn’t convert.

Jake Gardiner – One high-profile mistake on the powerplay, leading to the TB shorthanded goal in the first, saw him stapled for the rest of the game with the man advantage; he played just 25 seconds on the PP. Did respond well to the inexplicable giveaway with some good puck movement and first pass plays the rest of the way. On some plays it just seems like he forgets to think.

David Clarkson – 6 goals through 20 games, this is starting to be a legitimate positive development. Might have a legitimate shot at 20 goals this season if he stays healthy, it’s a more confident looking Clarkson with the puck and he was a thorn in the side of the Lightning with some good body contact throughout.

Cody Franson – This is something special he’s accomplishing with this points streak, now at 9 games and approaching the Leaf franchise record. There’s been a few unspectacular second assists in there, but it is a testament to how well he can move the puck.

James van Riemsdyk – Took a bad penalty in the first, but it didn’t detract from a huge effort from JvR overall. We all saw it — he flashed his separation speed off the rush a few times, which had been absent of late, and finished on a letter-perfect shot on one said rush, before showing off the silky-smooth hands in tight on the powerplay.

Phil Kessel – Wasn’t without his chances, but it wasn’t his night. Ben Bishop did a good job getting right out on Phil’s favourite angle to take away the far side of the net, but Kessel also fumbled his stick on one chance, only getting half a shot off, and he didn’t bear down on his breakaway.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lighting - Boxscore & Possession

NO.PLAYERPOSGAP+/-PIMSHITSBKSGVATKAFO%PP TOISH TOITOIES CF%ES ZS%
3D. PhaneufD0110011521-3:573:2924:52:00367
4C. FransonD0111013300-3:572:3120:56508
12S. RobidasD0001203300-0:001:3616:443650
18R. PanikR1011011101100%0:000:008:183960
21J. van RiemsdykL202125301167%3:190:0019:313914
23T. SmithC000100000033%0:002:209:474460
24P. HollandC000-100000150%0:581:5516:444657
25M. SantorelliC0000011131-0:001:1514:133340
26D. WinnikC011000120080%0:003:3517:493840
32J. LeivoL00010210010%0:000:005:574650
42T. BozakC011101000170%3:190:2018:584312
43N. KadriC000-100101175%1:030:0013:383540
44M. RiellyD0001002100-0:250:5515:244550
46R. PolakD0110004112-0:003:2924:07:003841
47L. KomarovC00002040010%0:002:3515:185625
51J. GardinerD000-1021020-0:250:0017:445258
71D. ClarksonR101-1012000-1:030:0014:294250
81P. KesselR0111050021-3:240:0017:565021
NO.PLAYERSAVES - SHOTSSV%PIMTOI
34J. Reimer0 - 0000:00
45J. Bernier26 - 280.929059:41:00
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