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In their second game against the top team in the league, the Maple Leafs managed a much stronger performance, but were let down in goal.

After a long shot from the neutral zone by Derek Stepan went past Jonathan Bernier, the Leafs fought back to level the score twice. They looked set for at least a point until Mats Zuccarello, who scored a hat trick in the last game, potted a late winner.

Toronto’s possession numbers were pretty much even until the third period, when their offense began to struggle. We can see the same pattern in their chances, as they were clearly ahead through two periods, only to see the attack dry up in the final frame. The Leafs also managed to win the neutral zone battle, while neither side managed many controlled entries.

TeamChances1st2nd3rdESESCloseESCh%NZEnt%ContEntOppContEnt
Tor19892181852.9%51.5%31.0%32.9%
Nyr17755161547.1%48.5%--

The Leafs finished the second period on a roll, getting nine of the last ten chances. That time included Stepan’s goal, which blunted the momentum Toronto was carrying in this period, and meant that they only managed to salvage a late tie. Phaneuf’s tying goal was also not a scoring chance, coming from well out, and came despite the fact Toronto generated very little in the third period.

PeriodTimeSTSOTeamHowStateT1T2T3T4T5T6O1O2O3O4O5O6
116:1800TorSpaling wide from WinnikES16192644454661332366193
115:3900NyrKlein from BrassardES2152342454681618323661
112:3200TorBozak from GardinerES3152342455181318242532
112:1400TorBozak from loose puckES231523424561632366193
111:5300TorSpaling drivesES2161926444561632366193
111:2400NyrFast wide from StollES21434445464781819262832
109:5800TorPhaneuf from KomarovPP31921434547818192832
107:3800NyrBrassard from ZuccarelloES2404345464751632366193
104:3700NyrZuccarello wide from BrassardES3152342444581632366193
104:0500NyrBrassard deflects McDonagh shotES21619264445162732366193
104:0200NyrBrassard from reboundES21619264445162732366193
103:2600TorParenteau deflects Polak shot wideES15234245465181018202132
102:0300TorGOAL! Holland from FroeseES24364045465681318242532
101:2810NyrNash drives postES2161926444561632366193
100:1010TorVan Riemsdyk from loose puckES2214344454781926272832
219:1610NyrGOAL! McDonagh from ZuccarelloES2152342444551627323661
218:1511NyrStalberg drives postES24264045465161324253293
217:4211NyrStepan from faceoffES3162436455651020212732
216:4411NyrNash drivesES2161944455651016202732
212:0411TorKadri drivesES21364345464751324252732
211:5511TorKadri wide from PolakES21364345464751324252732
211:3011TorKadri drivesES3152342455181018202132
211:0311TorMatthias wraparoundES3152342455181018202132
209:0211NyrStoll deflects Girardi shot wideES2214345464751926272832
207:2111TorVan Riemsdyk deflects Kadri wshotES2214344454751627323661
204:3912TorBozak from GardinerES3152342455181018202132
202:2412TorFroese deflects Phaneuf shotES3192645515661632366193
202:2212TorGOAL! Lupul from reboundES3192645515661632366193
201:0622TorKomarov from KadriES21434445464751926272832
316:2322NyrGOAL! Brassard from ZuccarelloES2152342444551627323661
314:2333TorLupul from WinnikES2192644455681618323661
313:3823NyrHayes from FasthES21364345464781318192832
308:4623NyrLindberg drives postSH21623454681320243293
307:2233NyrBrassard drives wideES3192645515651618323661
302:1533TorParenteau from BozakES2154245465651624273236
300:5433NyrGOAL! Zuccarello from reboundES2214344454751627323661

Leafs Player Data

PlayerESChFESChAESCh%ESTOIZS%NZ%ContEntOppContEnt
Parenteau7463.6%14:1457.1%54.5%20.8%25.0%
Bozak7463.6%13:2457.1%51.2%23.8%35.0%
Froese5362.5%14:0914.3%62.0%22.6%36.8%
Matthias6460.0%13:3257.1%50.0%18.2%40.9%
Van Riemsdyk5455.6%15:2481.8%38.0%57.9%29.0%
Kadri5550.0%16:2876.9%40.4%47.8%23.5%
Lupul5550.0%12:3520.0%58.1%24.0%38.9%
Winnik5550.0%10:5622.2%62.5%24.0%46.7%
Komarov5550.0%14:4981.8%37.3%57.9%25.0%
Holland1233.3%08:2537.5%61.3%36.8%50.0%
Grabner1233.3%08:1233.3%57.7%26.7%36.4%
Spaling2528.6%10:0137.5%60.0%22.2%33.3%
Gardiner7277.8%17:3358.8%52.7%31.0%23.1%
Phaneuf7370.0%17:5257.1%56.4%19.4%25.0%
Harrington3260.0%08:4160.0%44.4%25.0%40.0%
Polak7653.8%15:2250.0%39.1%38.9%42.9%
Rielly6940.0%19:4542.1%55.3%33.3%32.4%
Hunwick61037.5%21:3729.4%53.2%35.7%35.1%

The top three lines all managed to generate chances, but the best of the units was Tyler Bozak with Shawn Matthias and P.A. Parenteau. They particularly dominated the Stepan line, putting up excellent possession numbers.

Nazem Kadri’s line was even in chances, but did stand out in one area, as the only Leaf line that consistently managed to enter the Ranger zone with control. It didn’t end up helping them a whole lot, but they were effective in the most ES ice time of the forwards. Joffrey Lupul’s trio were also good, holding the Zuccarello/Nash line to even in possession, and finishing even in chances as well.

After a couple of tough games, Dion Phaneuf and Jake Gardiner played well, and finished as the top two Leafs in terms of chance differential, along with playing a lot of minutes.

Morgan Rielly and Matt Hunwick again got the toughest assignment, facing mostly the Nash line and having the hardest zone starts on the blue line, and were the only two defencemen to finish below even in chances, including being on for that heartbreaking winning goal.