You could use many words to describe the Toronto Maple Leafs effort in a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. Embarrassing, gutless, heartless, and pathetic come immediately to mind, but the word that perfectly fits their performance in the contest most eagerly anticipated by their fanbase since the departure of Mitch Marner in early July…..
Typical.
It may have been too much to expect for the club to reflect the angst and vitriol of a fanbase, but for Leafs players to diminish the meaning of the contest as just one of 82 games and no more important than a Tuesday night game against Utah just shows how they do not know how to read the room.
Toronto should have been up for this game based on their poor third-period effort in the 6-5 overtime loss in Vegas last week, on the fact that the Golden Knights took such immense pleasure in the comeback victory, or for no other reason than they had lost the first two games of a critical five-game homestand and needed the two points desperately.
Instead, they came out of the locker room completely nonplused, in a semi-conscious state, and did not awaken from their slumber until trailing 4-1 midway through the second period. The Leafs did narrow the lead to 4-3 and had a power play late in the third period with a chance to tie, but after missing out on the opportunity, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored on a two-on-one to put the final nail in the coffin.
Here are a few random thoughts:
Berube’s Questionable Choices
It was quite a surprise when Anthony Stolarz was in the starter’s crease at the morning skate on Friday and got the start without as much as seeing a puck shot in anger in 2 ½ months, and the decision appeared to be a mistake from the word “Go”. Although Stolarz had no chance on Jack Eichel’s opening goal, the big netminder was rusty, struggled with rebound control, and was at fault for three of the five goals he allowed.
That is not to lay the blame completely at his feet, but the fact that he started without playing one game on an AHL conditioning stint is absurd. Berube indicated after practice on Saturday that Stolarz not playing a game with the Marlies was not his call. Whoever’s call it was, it was the wrong one.
The other questionable decision in game was the lack of playing time for Scott Laughton. The fourth-liner scored his eighth goal of the season, and was noticeable on almost every shift, but played only 9:28 in the game. With third line winger Nick Robertson and Easton Cowan getting pummeled by bigger, stronger Vegas forwards all night, it would have made more sense to mix in Laughton higher in the lineup, especially when trailing by one goal in the third.
Like A Playoff Game
Vegas was energized to play for their teammate, which showed even before the game started, when Keegan Kolesar yanked a #16 jersey re-labeled “SELLOUT” out of a Leafs fan’s hand when entering the ice for the pre-game skate. It also showed when Eichel scored the opening goal and let out a loud Ric Flair “Woooooooo” in celebration, while the Leafs did not seem to be showing much of a pulse. In other words, the Golden Knights played like it was a playoff game, and the Leafs failing to step up played like they do in the playoffs.
Big Game Mitchy
Marner did not have much of an impact in the game, other than hearing booes he touched the puck. The Ex-Leaf had one shot on goal in 17:25 and no points. The water was carried by Stone and Eichel, who combined for five points, which will serve as a preview for the Golden Knights for the postseason, but that is not to diminish the Leafs core group not stepping up. Team captain Auston Matthews was invisible in the first period, but did make his presence felt in the second half of the game, but without William Nylander in the lineup, Toronto did not get enough of their support players to step up.
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