Maple Leafs report cards: Better team on ice in second loss to the Blues this season

The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to beat head coach Craig Berube’s former team yet again.

The Leafs dominated in the first, and while they were rewarded with a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission, they could have easily scored two or three. The St. Louis Blues picked up their game in the second and the bounces went their way. While Toronto looked like the better team, Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-net goal gave the Blues a 4-2 win.

The Leafs were certainly expected to win this game, but despite the loss, the overall team grade is a respectable B.

Steven Lorentz and David Kämpf: A-

Lorentz went to the net and scored a huge goal to pull the Leafs within one with six minutes to go. Kämpf picked up an assist on the play and also made a strong defensive play to break up a scoring chance halfway through the second. They’ve produced little offensively as of late, so it was nice to see them finally get one.

John Tavares: A-

Tavares hit the post in the first and made an excellent pass to set up a quality power-play chance for Max Domi in the late second. He had another strong scoring chance in the early third, but once again, Jordan Binnington was up to the test. He’ll rack up points eventually if he continues to play this well.

Conor Timmins: A-

Timmins picked up a primary assist on Toronto’s opening goal as Marner deflected his point shot and cashed in on the rebound. He continued to impress in the second, zipping the puck around and on for a couple of shifts where the Leafs enjoyed some extended time in the offensive zone.

Joseph Woll: A-

Woll got the start against his hometown team and stopped all four shots he faced in the first. He made an excellent read to stop Jordan Kyrou from tying the game in the early second, but he was soon beaten by a Colton Parayko point shot he couldn’t see.

He was quite unlucky in the second period, as the Blues’ eighth shot deflected off Jake McCabe’s skate and in. Parayko then beat him for a second time minutes later as once again, a perfect point shot beat him through a screen. While his stats looked iffy, Woll stopped everything he had a chance at saving. He opened the third with two nice saves against Jake Neighbours and Dylan Holloway, but his team couldn’t find a way to tie it.

Mitch Marner: B+

Marner opened the scoring six minutes in, as he went to the net, deflected a point shot and buried the resulting rebound. He racked up four shots on goal in the first period alone and was the best player on the ice even though he took a late penalty. Unfortunately, like the majority of his teammates, he wasn’t quite as impressive after the first period.

Jake McCabe: B

McCabe fought Brayden Schenn in the opening minutes, and St. Louis’ second goal deflected off his skate and in. The Leafs were dominating in his minutes by expected goals, but unfortunately it just didn’t translate to the scoreboard.

The second-line wingers (Pacioretty, Nylander): B

Max Pacioretty had a decent scoring chance twelve minutes in, but other than that, he wasn’t a major standout. William Nylander’s best play came late in the second on the power play, but like Pacioretty, he failed to get on the scoresheet. Their team dominated by expected goals during their minutes but Tavares was the best player on the line.

The first pair (Rielly – Ekman-Larsson): B

Neither player was overly noticeable. Morgan Rielly created a little bit more offensively, but Oliver Ekman-Larsson looked better by expected goals. The Leafs tend to look dangerous offensively during their minutes, but it felt like the forwards were the true catalysts tonight.

Chris Tanev: B-

The Leafs outplayed St. Louis early, but it was mostly when Tanev was off the ice. It’s not like he was terrible or anything, but he wasn’t a major driver of the team’s strong play.

Matthew Knies: B-

Knies stood out halfway through the first as he made a couple of nice passes to set up Rielly and Marner for quality scoring chances. He fired a one-timer on Binnington in the final minutes, but was unable to tie it up. His line played fairly well but he wasn’t quite as impressive as he’s been in previous games.

Auston Matthews: B-

Matthews had two quality scoring chances in the first, and his line was dominant. He was much quieter in the second, but he did come to Marner’s defence by bowling over Ryan Suter in a scrum in the third. On one hand, he’ll surely pick up points if his line continues to create chances. On the other hand, he’s held to a high standard, and he simply isn’t scoring at the rate he usually does.

The third line (McMann-Domi-Holmberg): C

Max Domi is an offensively gifted forward who is typically on for high-event hockey at both ends. However, his line has done the exact opposite as of late, as the team continues to play boring hockey during his minutes. Bobby McMann’s best shift was his first shift, when Pontus Holmberg set him up in the slot, and Domi’s best chance came on the power play. It’s nice to see this line playing reasonably well defensively, but you expect a little bit more offence against a non-playoff team.

Ryan Reaves: C

Reaves was on for a Leafs goal for the first time this season, but unlike his linemates, he didn’t do much to create the goal. He played just 6:42.

Simon Benoît: C

He wasn’t on for a goal for or against, which isn’t the worst thing to say about a third-pair defenceman. However, he simply doesn’t create much offensively. He needs to bring a little bit more to the table.