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Maple Leafs report cards: Turnovers continue to prove costly in OT loss to Bruins

27 October 2024Last Update :
Maple Leafs report cards: Turnovers continue to prove costly in OT loss to Bruins

The ghosts of Toronto Maple Leafs regular seasons past surrounded the team this week with the highs of Monday’s 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning to the lows of Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Leafs were in true need of a response game to point themselves back in the right direction but didn’t get one with tonight’s 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Leafs coach Craig Berube went power-for-power with the two top lines going against each other and it resulted in a low-event first period for the Leafs who didn’t get a shot until the halfway point of the period. Matthew Knies broke the scoring open to start the middle frame, though David Pastrnak tied it on the power play two minutes later. The quick responses for Boston didn’t end with Morgan Rielly giving the Leafs a 2-1 lead while Justin Brazeau took advantage of some net-front coverage to tie it and Mark Kastelic made it 3-2 about 36 seconds later.

The third wasn’t looking too good for the Leafs who, for a large amount of the period, only had one shot. The chances piled up in the final five minutes with Auston Matthews tying it with 1:17 to go in regulation sending the Leafs to overtime for the first time this season. They spent the majority of overtime in Boston’s end but a giveaway by Matthews sealed the deal.

This still wasn’t the response game the Leafs have been looking for. Although the second period was their best, they still gave Boston opportunities to get back into the game. In fact, you can argue three of their four goals were gifts, including the game-winner. The defensive errors continue to cost them and their power play can’t help them. The Leafs get a C+ for this one.

Player grades

Anthony Stolarz: A

Stolarz was the team’s best and steadiest player when they weren’t generating much offensively and had to be quick against the Bruins when playing the puck. He also had a pair of well-timed stick checks in the crease stopping opposing players trying to drive across the crease.

What stings the most about Stolarz’s performance is some of his best saves of the night were wasted. He had two great stops ahead of the Brazeau goal and could’ve had the save of his season if the team survived that overtime flurry. Like most losses this season, this one wasn’t on Stolarz.

Chris Tanev: A

His reads on blocks, especially on the penalty kill are excellent. Tanev led the team with six on the night.

Mitch Marner: B+

He got more shots after passing up on a power-play opportunity including a quick shot off the draw and began piling up assists as the game went on. Marner finished with three helpers, including two long but accurate feeds to Rielly and Matthews.

Matthew Knies: B+

Follow the play, get to a good area, score a goal.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson: B+

He stood out on the back end with two big hits and a strong effort to stop Hampus Lindholm from connecting on a pass.

Morgan Rielly: B+

A quick shot beat Swayman and gave the Leafs the lead in the second period.

He found his way back to the top power-play unit to start the third and he may not have added to it offensively, but he broke up a pass on a short-handed opportunity and another at five-on-five on a rush against.

Auston Matthews: B

It was a much better effort and awareness defensively despite the finish not being there from the chances he got. He was still creating chances with his one-vs.-four battle off the boards leading to Knies’ goal. And his own goal tied the game late.

Despite all the good plays Matthews made, his worst was the biggest. Pastrnak picked up his pass attempt to Marner and — along with Marchand — went to battle in the crease in front of Stolarz. That one’s on the captain though some support from his linemates would’ve helped.

Jake McCabe: B

McCabe made a few of those “cute” plays Berube was talking about last game with a no-look backhand pass while the Bruins were hemming his line and D-partner in the Leafs’ end. He wasn’t the sole reason why it was as long as it was, but that didn’t help it end faster. McCabe was penalized for a late hit that the Bruins scored on and made up with it good plays on the penalty kill.

Steven Lorentz: B

The double-minor was a key kill and those clears Lorentz had to fight for made a difference.

John Tavares: B-

Tavares was getting in physically on his shifts but he’s not coming up with pucks off those board battles. He also stacked turnovers in the first period, including two missed pass attempts allowing the Bruins to keep the puck in the zone in that nearly two-minute hemmed shift. It was a lot better in the second and he made a great pass to Marner ahead of Matthews’ goal.

Nick Robertson: C+

It was good to see Robertson get his line going a bit tonight with his speed and effort along the wall and through the middle of the ice. He’s still getting chances and took a risky tripping call in the third.

Max Pacioretty: C+

Pacioretty was tied amongst the top forwards in shots with four in his first game back from injury despite seeing only 9:51.

Philippe Myers: C+

The defenceman made his season debut after leaving a good impression on the coaching staff. I thought he was fine and was aggressive on puck carriers and players at the blue line on zone entries.

David Kämpf: C+

Kämpf makes a good second unit with Lorentz, and would probably have more goals if he could capitalize on the traffic the line creates at five-on-five.

William Nylander: C

A bit of a Murphy’s Law game for Nylander with the high-sticking penalty, far too many turnovers and a blown wheel that gave the Bruins their chance to take the lead in the third period.

Ryan Reaves: C

Took a penalty and drew one himself on Morgan Geekie.

Simon Benoit: C

Trent Frederic had a lot of net to shoot at as Stolarz was spun around but Benoit had a heroic block to save a goal. However, he was far too high in the zone and could’ve been lower to help with the turnover ahead of the 3-2 goal.

Max Domi: C

He was put on a line with Tavares and Nylander in the third and had some looks around Swayman with Kämpf and Lorentz late. Additionally, his rush up on Swayman in overtime had eyes.

Bobby McMann: C-

He didn’t have much going for him offensively and the puck bobbling on him along the boards was the first spark in the blow-up that was Brazeau’s 3-2 goal.

Game score

What’s next for the Leafs?

The Leafs are in Winnipeg on Monday to take on the Jets at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime.

(Photo: Winslow Townson / Imagn Images)

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