When you’re bottom of the standings with one of the youngest rosters, playing against the runaway Presidents Trophy favorites, a chart like this should lend some positivity:
The Leafs put in a solid effort, but at risk of pointing out the obvious: In the second night of a back to back (as the Caps were), first overall teams build an early lead and take advantage of a powerplay opportunity at the end to win a game in which they weren’t at their best. Last-place teams generate next to nothing on three first period powerplays and fall behind 2-0 after 20.
I thought we did lots of good things last night. In the end, good teams win. When they get up in the morning, they don’t know they won by one. They win 50 times by one. Teams that don’t win, they play in 30 one-goal games and they win eight. That’s what teams that win do, and that’s what teams that don’t win do. I’ve been on the other side of lots and never even thought about it. You just won and got on with yourself.
– Mike Babcock
Still, there were some positives to take away from the Leafs’ pushback, which included a couple of firsts – Nikita Soshnikov’s awesome first career NHL goal, and Connor Carrick’s first point as a Maple Leaf.
Mike Babcock was straightforward on which youngsters he liked and which ones he’ll be looking for more from tomorrow night vs. the Minnesota Wild:
How did you feel about the way some of the young guys handled themselves?
Babcock: Some were pretty good and some have to compete harder. We play again tomorrow — that’s the NHL. If you’re not going to compete, it doesn’t matter how much skill you have, you’re not going to play in the NHL very long. There’s a message in there for some of us. I thought Hyman and Soshnikov were real good.
In Soshnikov’s case, when you rip one bar down, piss the other team off, take six penalty minutes and throw six hits in your second game as a Leaf, you’re going to win over the hearts of Leafs Nation pretty quickly. Soshnikov and Hyman are both more mature players whose games are predicated on playing with an edge, so it can’t be considered a surprise if their initial adjustment to the big leagues is smoother.
A note about Nylander: He played over five minutes of the Leafs‘ eight on the powerplay. It’s interesting that the Toronto Marlies have a mediocre powerplay (17th) for a total powerhouse of a team, with Nylander scoring just three times with the man advantage (two came in one game, with one PPG in his other 36 games). Just as we’ve seen from the Leafs in the past two games, their set up has featured William Nylander on his strong (right) side rather than working off of the opposite half wall, where he has a couple more options and a better shooting angle available to him. In the bits we have seen of him on the powerplay the past two games, Nylander’s not really been a factor at 5v4 like he should be. The Leaf powerplay, which has been abysmal after the first month of the season, is dying for a talent like Willy to make an impact.
Splits for the young guys:
William Nylander: 100% offensive zone starts, 67% 5v5 CF, 16:12 TOI, 5:03 PPTOI, 2 SOG, 50% on faceoffs
Zach Hyman: 14:04 TOI, 2:03 shorthanded TOI, 0:28 PPTOI, 0 SOG, 1 hit, 2 blocked shots, 100% Offensive Zone Starts, 58% 5v5 CF
Kasperi Kapanen: 17:07 TOI, 4:50 PPTOI, 1 SOG, 83.3% Offensive Zone Starts, 58% 5v5 CF
Nikita Soshnikov: 1 G, 6 hits, 6 PIM, 2 SOG, 14:02 TOI, 2:16 PPTOI, 42% Offensive Zone Starts, 41% 5v5 CF. Primarily played vs. Ovechkin/Backstrom/Oshie line at 5v5 (~8:30)
Connor Carrick: 14:18 TOI, 1:57 PPTOI, 0 SOG, 50% Offensive Zone Starts, 71% 5v5 CF (team leading)
Game in 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq65a6kY6tc
Mike Babcock Post Game
Shot Location Chart
Leafs Player Stats — Washington 3 vs. Toronto 2
| Player | G | A | +/- | SOG | MS | BS | PN | PIM | HT | TOT | PP | SH | EV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Boyes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15:15 | 3:04 | 0:00 | 12:11 |
| C. Carrick | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14:18 | 1:57 | 0:00 | 12:21 |
| F. Corrado | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11:21 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 11:21 |
| J. Gardiner | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22:12 | 4:28 | 0:04 | 17:40 |
| M. Grabner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:37 | 0:06 | 3:35 | 7:56 |
| C. Greening | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10:29 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 10:29 |
| P. Holland | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15:36 | 3:04 | 0:00 | 12:32 |
| M. Hunwick | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23:43 | 0:21 | 6:07 | 17:15 |
| Z. Hyman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14:04 | 0:28 | 2:03 | 11:33 |
| N. Kadri | 0 | 1 | -1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18:41 | 2:52 | 0:00 | 15:49 |
| K. Kapanen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17:07 | 4:50 | 0:00 | 12:17 |
| L. Komarov | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20:42 | 3:16 | 3:35 | 13:51 |
| B. Laich | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14:17 | 4:10 | 0:33 | 9:34 |
| M. Marincin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21:33 | 0:15 | 6:07 | 15:11 |
| W. Nylander | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16:12 | 5:02 | 0:00 | 11:10 |
| M. Rielly | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22:06 | 3:45 | 0:04 | 18:17 |
| B. Smith | 0 | 0 | -1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12:41 | 0:06 | 2:32 | 10:03 |
| N. Soshnikov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 14:02 | 2:16 | 0:04 | 11:42 |
