Game Review: Game #72, Canadiens 4 at Leafs 3

This is may be the darkest night in Leafland since May 13, 2003. It was a crucial loss to the Montreal Canadiens that took the Maple Leafs from in the mix for the third divisional playoff spot to no longer in control of their own destiny when it comes to making the playoffs in a wildcard position. The Leafs have now lost their third “four-point game” in the span of a week. Crushing stuff.

The reality is that the Leafs, with their current flaws, are among the large group of middling teams in the East who aren’t separated by all that much. Unless you’re among  the elite teams who have already built a big cushion by this point, the first 60 or 65 games are all about putting yourself in a position to make the playoffs when the dust settles.

Among that group jousting for playoff spots down the stretch, who is getting good goaltending vs. average goaltending is going to be the major difference maker. With this team’s defensive deficiencies, average goaltending won’t cut it for the Leafs and they’ll sink right out of the spot they’re tenuously holding onto. Few live and die by their goaltending as much as the Leafs; it was their biggest differentiator and had them situated to take over 2nd in the Division a little over a week ago. Now, they’re on the verge of falling out of the playoffs with 10 games to go. There was very little between the Habs and Leafs tonight, much as there was little between the Leafs and Wings on Tuesday. The margins are so thin in these games. James Reimer has to step up and stop two of those goals he let in tonight. Simple as that.

The other disappointing part is the poor PK from the Leafs on the only penalty it had to kill half way through the third. Playoff teams get that kill. Instead — with no pressure on the points, poor clearing attempts by McClement and a foul up by Phaneuf, who tried to be too patient on the play — the Leafs didn’t and it cost them at least one vital point.

It’s hard to find the positives in a night like this, but the Leafs played a pretty good game overall. Lupul and Kadri scored a couple of nice goals. Jake Gardiner had himself a hell of a game. There was something to like about Bolland’s return, too. You could tell he set out to make sure he engaged in the game with some physical play, and while he looks like he’s still down half a step, much of his game is rooted in savvy play. He should be able to help this team in the final 10, hopefully by giving them three contributing forward lines. He missed nearly 60 games and yet he seemed ready to go from the first shift onward. Granted, Carlyle eased him in with 9:01 TOI tonight.

It might be worth putting Bolland with, say, Bodie and Kulemin on a line to start the game so the Leafs can set the tone better than they have been off the puck drop.

Not a tonne of anaylsis tonight, for it was a downer and one all of us fans are going to need to sleep on to fully digest and put behind us.  12 out of 20 points isn’t a yeoman’s feat if the Leafs get their act together soon, soon as in 18 hours from now, but it’s no longer fully in the Leafs’ control. Jonathan Bernier is reportedly not going to make the trip to Jersey.

Toronto Maple Leafs_vs_Montreal Canadiens Boxscore