The Leafs had a solid opening period at even strength, but were undone by special teams, as Nashville scored shorthanded and on the power-play to consign Toronto to another first period deficit.
Toronto were able to bounce back in the second period, dominating the chances, 9-3 at ES, and cutting down the lead. The Leafs stayed on that roll early in the third, and for once in this long slump, were rewarded, scoring twice in a minute. However, Nashville were back tied only four minutes later, and after the Predators went back ahead Toronto didn’t have much of a response. In fact, their only chances in the last ten minutes of the game came short-handed, with a post and Carter Hutton’s spectacular save. The Leafs had pressure with the extra man in the final minute, but didn’t actually manage to get a shot through to the Nashville goal, as the Predator D put on a great shot-blocking exhibition.
Status | Overall | Even Strength | ES Close | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | TOR | NSH | % | TOR | NSH | % | TOR | NSH | % |
1 | 5 | 5 | 50.0% | 4 | 4 | 50.0% | 4 | 3 | 57.1% |
2 | 10 | 3 | 76.9% | 9 | 3 | 75.0% | 6 | 1 | 85.7% |
3 | 7 | 4 | 63.6% | 5 | 3 | 62.5% | 3 | 1 | 75.0% |
Total | 22 | 12 | 64.7% | 18 | 10 | 64.3% | 13 | 5 | 72.2% |
The special teams really did kill the Leafs, as they were the better team at ES, including in the second period, when they really carried the play.
Club | St | P | Time | TSc | Osc | Note | Toronto | Nashville | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSH | ES | 1 | 19:03 | 0 | 0 | Neal from faceoff | 24 | 47 | 71 | 12 | 55 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 18 | 3 | 64 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 1 | 18:09 | 0 | 0 | Jarnkrok from Bourque | 24 | 47 | 71 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 1 | 16:41 | 0 | 0 | Lupul wraparound wide | 26 | 43 | 19 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 1 | 14:20 | 0 | 0 | Kadri from Lupul | 43 | 18 | 19 | 44 | 51 | 45 | 63 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 64 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 1 | 12:00 | 0 | 0 | Bozak from Kessel | 42 | 81 | 21 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 28 | 24 | 41 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 1 | 10:40 | 0 | 0 | Lupul drives | 26 | 43 | 19 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
NSH | PP | 1 | 08:08 | 0 | 0 | GOAL! Jones drives | 43 | 19 | 71 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 12 | 19 | 3 | 14 | 30 | - |
TOR | PP | 1 | 07:33 | 0 | 1 | Van Riemsdyk from Rielly | 24 | 42 | 81 | 21 | 44 | 45 | 7 | 57 | 6 | 59 | 30 | - |
NSH | ES | 1 | 06:54 | 0 | 1 | Volchenkov wide from loose puck | 25 | 81 | 21 | 44 | 55 | 45 | 33 | 63 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 1 | 01:42 | 0 | 2 | Neal from faceoff | 24 | 47 | 71 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 18 | 3 | 64 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 2 | 18:21 | 0 | 2 | Weber wide from Forsberg | 24 | 47 | 71 | 12 | 55 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 17:43 | 0 | 2 | Kadri from Panik | 43 | 18 | 20 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 15 | 33 | 63 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 17:33 | 0 | 2 | Booth wraparound | 43 | 18 | 20 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 2 | 14:32 | 0 | 2 | Ribeiro from Smith | 24 | 47 | 71 | 12 | 55 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 12:11 | 0 | 2 | GOAL! Winnik from Santorelli | 25 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 14 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 08:23 | 1 | 2 | Holland from loose puck | 24 | 47 | 71 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 06:59 | 1 | 2 | Booth from Kadri | 26 | 43 | 20 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 33 | 63 | 18 | 3 | 64 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 05:56 | 1 | 2 | Booth from loose puck | 43 | 18 | 20 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | PP | 2 | 05:43 | 1 | 2 | Van Riemsdyk from Bozak | 42 | 81 | 21 | 4 | 44 | 45 | 12 | 19 | 6 | 59 | 30 | - |
TOR | ES | 2 | 03:34 | 1 | 2 | Kadri from Santorelli | 25 | 43 | 19 | 46 | 55 | 45 | 12 | 19 | 28 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 02:48 | 1 | 2 | Panik deflects Gardiner shot wide | 24 | 18 | 20 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 33 | 63 | 18 | 3 | 64 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 2 | 01:52 | 1 | 2 | Clarkson from Rielly | 24 | 47 | 71 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 2 | 01:08 | 1 | 2 | Cullen drives | 25 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 55 | 45 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 3 | 17:42 | 1 | 2 | Booth drives | 43 | 18 | 20 | 4 | 51 | 34 | 28 | 24 | 41 | 6 | 20 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 3 | 17:41 | 1 | 2 | GOAL! Kadri from rebound of Booth shot | 43 | 18 | 20 | 4 | 51 | 34 | 28 | 24 | 41 | 6 | 20 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 3 | 17:04 | 2 | 2 | GOAL! Santorelli drives | 25 | 26 | 19 | 44 | 46 | 34 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 3 | 15:16 | 3 | 2 | Wilson wide from loose puck | 24 | 47 | 71 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 3 | 13:05 | 3 | 2 | GOAL! Fisher from Wilson | 42 | 81 | 21 | 4 | 51 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 3 | 12:16 | 3 | 3 | Booth drives | 43 | 18 | 20 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 3 | 64 | 30 |
TOR | ES | 3 | 10:13 | 3 | 3 | Lupul post from Winnik | 26 | 43 | 19 | 12 | 55 | 45 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 20 | 64 | 30 |
NSH | ES | 3 | 08:42 | 3 | 3 | GOAL! Wilson from loose puck | 43 | 18 | 20 | 44 | 46 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 30 |
TOR | SH | 3 | 03:08 | 3 | 4 | Winnik post from Bozak | 26 | 42 | 12 | 44 | 45 | - | 15 | 33 | 63 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
TOR | SH | 3 | 03:01 | 3 | 4 | Winnik deflects Rielly shot | 26 | 42 | 12 | 44 | 45 | - | 15 | 33 | 63 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
NSH | SH | 3 | 01:59 | 3 | 4 | Neal from Forsberg | 25 | 20 | 4 | 55 | 45 | - | 12 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 59 | 30 |
Player-by Player data:
Player | Overall | Even Strength | ES Close | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For | Against | Diff | TOI | For | Against | Diff | TOI | For | Against | Diff | |
Franson | 9 | 5 | 4 | 23:58 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 17:59 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Robidas | 3 | 4 | -1 | 14:59 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 11:08 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
Panik | 8 | 1 | 7 | 12:45 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 11:36 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Lupul | 7 | 2 | 5 | 15:19 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 12:17 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
Booth | 8 | 2 | 6 | 13:04 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10:42 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Van Riemsdyk | 3 | 2 | 1 | 18:52 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 13:54 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Holland | 4 | 6 | -2 | 12:50 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 09:51 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Santorelli | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13:09 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11:00 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Winnik | 8 | 1 | 7 | 15:06 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 11:23 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
Bozak | 5 | 1 | 4 | 17:11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11:37 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Kadri | 12 | 2 | 10 | 19:01 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 14:58 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
Rielly | 12 | 3 | 9 | 23:07 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 17:01 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Polak | 8 | 2 | 6 | 20:19 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 16:18 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
Komarov | 2 | 6 | -4 | 11:53 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 09:22 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Gardiner | 9 | 4 | 5 | 20:09 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 17:47 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Holzer | 2 | 6 | -4 | 14:56 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 12:44 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
Clarkson | 2 | 7 | -5 | 10:13 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 09:12 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Kessel | 3 | 2 | 1 | 18:31 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 13:33 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Bernier | 19 | 12 | 7 | 53:29 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 41:44 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
Reimer | 3 | 0 | 3 | 05:24 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 03:24 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Nazem Kadri had an excellent game in chances, driving most of the Leafs‘ offense. He finished a game-best +7 at ES Close, and was a +11 at ES Overall. No one else up front quite reached those levels, but Joffrey Lupul, David Booth, Richard Panik and Daniel Winnik all finished at +5 or better at ES, and were each on for only a single Predator ES chance. Unfortunately, this didn’t extend to the top line, which were shut down by Nashville, on for just one ES chance. The benefit for Kessel, JVR and Bozak was that they weren’t defensively suspect either, finishing at even. Komarov, Holland and Clarkson were used in a defensive role, and their numbers reflect that, as all three finished near even at ES Close, but were the team’s lowest at ES overall.
Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson got the easiest zone starts on the defence, and did well with them, both finishing substantially in the positive, and neither of them on for a Predators chance at ES Close. While Morgan Rielly and Roman Polak didn’t have as unblemished a record, their performance was also impressive, as despite tougher starts they both finished clearly in the positive as well. The only pairing to buck the trend was Holzer and the returning Robidas, who were the only Leaf players to finish in the negative at ES Close. They did have the toughest zone starts, which goes someway to explaining those results.
Cumulative numbers this season:
Overall | Pos | # | Even Strength | ES Close | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For | Against | % | TOI | For | Against | % | |||
Winnik | F | 50 | 187 | 196 | 48.8% | 13:01 | 105 | 89 | 54.1% |
Kadri | F | 50 | 253 | 260 | 49.3% | 14:47 | 153 | 147 | 51.0% |
Komarov | F | 33 | 106 | 100 | 51.5% | 12:05 | 56 | 55 | 50.5% |
Franson | D | 50 | 274 | 286 | 48.9% | 16:07 | 163 | 161 | 50.3% |
Clarkson | F | 52 | 192 | 207 | 48.1% | 12:14 | 100 | 107 | 48.3% |
Lupul | F | 29 | 133 | 153 | 46.5% | 13:36 | 75 | 83 | 47.5% |
Bernier | G | 37 | 506 | 586 | 46.3% | 45:07 | 312 | 347 | 47.3% |
Gardiner | D | 49 | 234 | 264 | 47.0% | 17:16 | 130 | 147 | 46.9% |
Phaneuf | D | 48 | 267 | 317 | 45.7% | 17:05 | 160 | 183 | 46.6% |
Panik | F | 46 | 103 | 108 | 48.8% | 09:02 | 60 | 69 | 46.5% |
Rielly | D | 51 | 270 | 309 | 46.6% | 16:19 | 145 | 167 | 46.5% |
Polak | D | 42 | 207 | 260 | 44.3% | 17:51 | 125 | 144 | 46.5% |
Kessel | F | 52 | 276 | 328 | 45.7% | 15:13 | 164 | 197 | 45.4% |
Bozak | F | 52 | 262 | 302 | 46.5% | 15:03 | 143 | 175 | 45.0% |
Santorelli | F | 52 | 195 | 233 | 45.6% | 13:41 | 104 | 130 | 44.4% |
Smith | F | 35 | 70 | 84 | 45.5% | 08:31 | 39 | 52 | 42.9% |
Van Riemsdyk | F | 52 | 248 | 332 | 42.8% | 15:02 | 148 | 198 | 42.8% |
Reimer | G | 21 | 252 | 316 | 44.4% | 41:20 | 119 | 168 | 41.5% |
Holland | F | 42 | 112 | 168 | 40.0% | 11:38 | 60 | 85 | 41.4% |
Robidas | D | 39 | 146 | 200 | 42.2% | 15:01 | 73 | 120 | 37.8% |
Booth | F | 29 | 50 | 75 | 40.0% | 08:53 | 29 | 48 | 37.7% |
Holzer | D | 23 | 86 | 123 | 41.1% | 15:16 | 48 | 81 | 37.2% |
Kadri’s game gets him up over 50% at ES Close this season, joining Winnik and Komarov as the only Leafs to better that mark at this point. Trading Kadri seems like it would be the biggest mistake the Leafs could make. He’s far from a perfect player, but for the last couple of years has consistently been their best producing forward at ES, and his best years are likely still ahead of him. Robidas also drew back in; he’s been down at the bottom of the table most of the season. In comparison, Percy has had very similar numbers, and Granberg, in his short and protected stint, was around 43% at ES Close. So neither of the young defencemen are an upgrade on Robidas, but they have the advantages in age and contract.