The depressing thing about the current state of the Leafs is that the first period, which saw them fall behind 4-0 in just eleven minutes, was their best of the Western road trip in terms of chances.
It was still bad, but they were only out-chanced 7-4 at ES. The problem was that Jonathan Bernier struggled, which left the Leafs chasing the game early. The Leafs managed to pick up their play once the score was lopsided, and managed the better of the chances in the second, but didn’t get a goal. However, that pressure didn’t keep up in the third, as Toronto’s offense mostly disappeared. The Leafs didn’t manage a single chance at ES in the last thirteen minutes, slumping to another defeat.
| Status | Overall | Even Strength | ES Close | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | TOR | EDM | % | TOR | EDM | % | TOR | EDM | % |
| 1 | 5 | 10 | 33.3% | 4 | 7 | 36.4% | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
| 2 | 9 | 5 | 64.3% | 6 | 5 | 54.5% | 0 | 0 | - |
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% | 4 | 2 | 66.7% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Total | 18 | 18 | 50.0% | 14 | 14 | 50.0% | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
The Leafs ended up getting back to even in chances at ES, despite their poor first period, and finished even at ES Close as well. While the Leafs‘ goaltending hasn’t been great in the Horachek era, it hasn’t been the reason they’ve been losing; tonight was an exception.
| Club | St | P | Time | TSc | Osc | Note | Toronto | Edmonton | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR | ES | 1 | 14:43 | 0 | 1 | Bozak from loose puck | 42 | 81 | 18 | 3 | 51 | 45 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 1 | 14:42 | 0 | 1 | Kessel from rebound of Bozak shot | 42 | 81 | 18 | 3 | 51 | 45 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 84 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 14:08 | 0 | 1 | Klinkhammer wide from Hendricks | 43 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 51 | 45 | 12 | 23 | 27 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 13:59 | 0 | 1 | Klefbom wide from Gordon | 43 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 51 | 45 | 12 | 23 | 27 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| EDM | SH | 1 | 12:44 | 0 | 1 | GOAL! Eberle from Schultz | 23 | 47 | 2 | 57 | 45 | - | 14 | 51 | 93 | 16 | 19 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 11:52 | 0 | 2 | GOAL! Pouliot from Yakupov | 15 | 22 | 67 | 25 | 57 | 45 | 8 | 10 | 67 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| EDM | SH | 1 | 09:54 | 0 | 3 | Nugent-Hopkins from Eberle | 23 | 20 | 3 | 57 | 34 | - | 14 | 51 | 93 | 16 | 19 | 30 |
| EDM | SH | 1 | 09:01 | 0 | 3 | GOAL! Lander from Purcell | 47 | 20 | 44 | 57 | 34 | - | 14 | 51 | 93 | 16 | 19 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 08:30 | 0 | 4 | Marincin wide from Pouliot | 42 | 81 | 18 | 44 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 67 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| TOR | PP | 1 | 06:33 | 0 | 4 | GOAL! Van Riemsdyk deflects Phaneuf shot | 42 | 81 | 21 | 3 | 25 | 34 | 93 | 16 | 5 | 84 | 30 | - |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 06:06 | 1 | 4 | Nugent-Hopkins from Eberle | 23 | 47 | 19 | 2 | 44 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 67 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 05:13 | 1 | 4 | Roy wide from Marincin | 42 | 81 | 18 | 3 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 1 | 02:17 | 1 | 4 | Lupul from Gardiner | 23 | 47 | 19 | 3 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 22 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 1 | 01:11 | 1 | 4 | Hendricks from Klinkhammer | 43 | 20 | 21 | 2 | 44 | 34 | 12 | 23 | 27 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 1 | 00:12 | 1 | 4 | Gardiner drives wide | 42 | 81 | 18 | 3 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 2 | 16:37 | 1 | 4 | Phaneuf from Panik | 42 | 18 | 19 | 3 | 44 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 85 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 2 | 15:20 | 1 | 4 | Nugent-Hopkins wide from Fayne | 43 | 20 | 21 | 2 | 51 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 67 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 2 | 13:58 | 1 | 4 | Hamliton drives | 15 | 42 | 67 | 25 | 57 | 34 | 51 | 28 | 48 | 21 | 22 | 30 |
| TOR | PP | 2 | 11:36 | 1 | 4 | Rielly from Kessel | 43 | 81 | 21 | 3 | 44 | 34 | 93 | 16 | 21 | 84 | 30 | - |
| TOR | ES | 2 | 10:19 | 1 | 4 | Kessel drives | 42 | 81 | 21 | 3 | 25 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 28 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 2 | 10:02 | 1 | 4 | Van Riemsdyk drives | 23 | 81 | 21 | 3 | 25 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 28 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 2 | 09:22 | 1 | 4 | Komarov from loose puck | 23 | 47 | 18 | 44 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 2 | 08:06 | 1 | 4 | Hamilton from Eberle | 43 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 44 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 67 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 2 | 06:42 | 1 | 4 | Roy from Purcell | 23 | 47 | 18 | 2 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | PP | 2 | 05:05 | 1 | 4 | Van Riemsdyk wide from Kessel | 42 | 81 | 21 | 3 | 25 | 34 | 93 | 16 | 5 | 85 | 30 | - |
| TOR | PP | 2 | 04:23 | 1 | 4 | Kadri wraparound | 43 | 18 | 19 | 44 | 51 | 34 | 23 | 67 | 21 | 84 | 30 | - |
| EDM | ES | 2 | 04:04 | 1 | 4 | Klefbom from loose puck | 23 | 47 | 20 | 44 | 51 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 67 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 2 | 03:00 | 1 | 4 | Lupul from Kessel | 42 | 81 | 19 | 2 | 57 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 2 | 01:27 | 1 | 4 | Kessel drives | 43 | 81 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 51 | 28 | 48 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 3 | 19:13 | 1 | 4 | Rielly from Kadri | 43 | 81 | 19 | 44 | 51 | 34 | 8 | 14 | 67 | 19 | 85 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 3 | 16:39 | 1 | 4 | Gordon wraparound | 15 | 22 | 67 | 2 | 51 | 34 | 12 | 23 | 27 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 3 | 14:54 | 1 | 4 | Kadri wide from Booth | 43 | 20 | 21 | 2 | 51 | 34 | 14 | 93 | 67 | 5 | 85 | 30 |
| EDM | ES | 3 | 14:16 | 1 | 4 | Hamilton from Schultz | 23 | 47 | 18 | 25 | 57 | 34 | 51 | 28 | 48 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 3 | 13:32 | 1 | 4 | Lupul wide from loose puck | 42 | 81 | 19 | 3 | 44 | 34 | 12 | 23 | 27 | 21 | 22 | 30 |
| TOR | ES | 3 | 04:17 | 1 | 4 | Bozak from Kessel | 42 | 81 | 19 | 2 | 57 | 34 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
| EDM | SH | 3 | 02:36 | 1 | 4 | Pouliot deflects Schultz shot wide | 23 | 47 | 3 | 57 | 34 | - | 14 | 93 | 67 | 19 | 84 | 30 |
Player-by-Player data:
| Player | Overall | Even Strength | ES Close | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | Against | Diff | TOI | For | Against | Diff | TOI | For | Against | Diff | |
| Brewer | 4 | 6 | -2 | 18:21 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 15:59 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phaneuf | 12 | 6 | 6 | 25:44 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 15:31 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Lindstrom | 0 | 3 | -3 | 03:44 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 03:44 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Panik | 6 | 4 | 2 | 15:11 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12:20 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Lupul | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14:25 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 12:09 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Booth | 1 | 8 | -7 | 17:51 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 14:25 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Van Riemsdyk | 7 | 5 | 2 | 20:24 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 14:20 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Sill | 0 | 2 | -2 | 06:10 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 04:57 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Smith | 3 | 7 | -4 | 14:50 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 09:47 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brennan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16:15 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 11:07 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bozak | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20:47 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 15:39 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Kadri | 5 | 5 | 0 | 16:05 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 13:06 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Rielly | 6 | 6 | 0 | 21:49 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 16:05 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Komarov | 2 | 7 | -5 | 15:32 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 10:24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gardiner | 8 | 8 | 0 | 19:31 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 16:13 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| MacWilliam | 2 | 7 | -5 | 18:20 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 12:03 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kozun | 0 | 3 | -3 | 03:47 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 03:47 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kessel | 13 | 2 | 11 | 21:40 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 15:49 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Bernier | 2 | 4 | -2 | 08:08 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 05:29 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Reimer | 16 | 14 | 2 | 51:52 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 38:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The top line had one of its best games in a while, as Lupul, Bozak and Kessel were clearly the Leafs’ best players in terms of chances. In particular, it was Kessel, who was on for 10 Leaf ES chances, and was a game best +8. Lupul also was impressive, on for only a single Oiler chance, despite a fairly difficult zone start ratio. The only other forward to finish above even at ES was Richard Panik, who started the game on that top line, in Lupul’s place. David Booth had another tough game, and was the worst Leaf, finishing at -5. His road trip has been abysmal, as he finished -17 in chances over the three games. Nazem Kadri and James Van Riemsdyk started poorly, with JVR finishing at -1 and Kadri at -2. The fourth line played sparingly, but struggled when it did, with Lindstrom and Kozun on for three Oilers chances in less than four minutes.
It was a good night for Dion Phaneuf as well, as he led the Leafs’ defence, finishing at +5 in chances. Jake Gardiner had a high event night, finishing at -1, while MacWilliam and Brennan were much quieter, but also close to even. In fact, other than Phaneuf, all the defencemen were -1 in chances at ES. That probably speaks the best of Brewer, who played 15 minutes with the highest defensive zone ratio on the back end.
Cumulative numbers this season:
| Overall | Pos | # | Even Strength | ES Close | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | Against | % | TOI | For | Against | % | |||
| Sill | F | 11 | 17 | 19 | 47.2% | 06:37 | 8 | 6 | 57.1% |
| Kadri | F | 66 | 322 | 342 | 48.5% | 14:51 | 192 | 189 | 50.4% |
| Polak | D | 56 | 286 | 346 | 45.3% | 17:54 | 174 | 188 | 48.1% |
| Gardiner | D | 68 | 349 | 385 | 47.5% | 17:51 | 192 | 216 | 47.1% |
| Komarov | F | 52 | 170 | 170 | 50.0% | 12:02 | 88 | 99 | 47.1% |
| Rielly | D | 70 | 382 | 429 | 47.1% | 16:50 | 207 | 233 | 47.0% |
| Panik | F | 65 | 179 | 198 | 47.5% | 10:09 | 100 | 113 | 46.9% |
| Bernier | G | 50 | 670 | 781 | 46.2% | 44:35 | 414 | 471 | 46.8% |
| Phaneuf | D | 59 | 326 | 390 | 45.5% | 17:04 | 190 | 223 | 46.0% |
| Lupul | F | 44 | 185 | 237 | 43.8% | 13:21 | 99 | 119 | 45.4% |
| Kessel | F | 71 | 369 | 423 | 46.6% | 14:54 | 209 | 255 | 45.0% |
| Bozak | F | 71 | 347 | 407 | 46.0% | 14:42 | 185 | 236 | 43.9% |
| Smith | F | 47 | 111 | 127 | 46.6% | 08:55 | 61 | 80 | 43.3% |
| Van Riemsdyk | F | 71 | 327 | 431 | 43.1% | 14:42 | 190 | 260 | 42.2% |
| Holland | F | 59 | 165 | 234 | 41.4% | 11:36 | 87 | 120 | 42.0% |
| Reimer | G | 29 | 365 | 452 | 44.7% | 42:31 | 164 | 230 | 41.6% |
| Booth | F | 48 | 114 | 158 | 41.9% | 10:03 | 60 | 101 | 37.3% |
| Robidas | D | 52 | 192 | 267 | 41.8% | 14:44 | 93 | 163 | 36.3% |
| Kozun | F | 16 | 18 | 43 | 29.5% | 06:55 | 9 | 21 | 30.0% |
As promised, Zach Sill enters the table in top spot; you can see how small his sample sizes are, though, so it’s not as if you can put much stock in that ranking. Leo Komarov has fallen to exactly even at ES overall this year, which could leave the Leafs without a single regular at or above 50% if he has a negative number in his next game.
