"After a horrendous breakout pass attempt by Jake McCabe, Brock Nelson picked up the puck and took it in on Joseph Woll with all the time in the world, easily putting it past him for a 1-0 lead. Not long after, Bobby McMann failed to get the puck out of the zone and Nelson sniped it from an impossible angle for his second of the game only seven minutes into the game."
"The Leafs held the Avalanche off the board until the final minutes of the second period, when, despite a potentially momentum-aiding penalty kill just prior, the Avalanche took advantage of another clean zone entry and made it 3-0 before the end of the first period. From there, all they had to do was play the bare minimum good defensive hockey and it was enough to prevent the Leafs from making any noise."
"What was particularly frustrating about the Leafs' play in this game was that their effort levels were there. Unfortunately for them, they seemed to adopt the absolute worst possible strategy on their breakouts, either firing a grenade to nobody or tossing a floater to nobody. That kind of breakout plan wouldn't work against an AHL team, let alone a juggernaut like Colorado, and the Leafs simply had no answer for them despite the Avalanche having lost four of their last five games."
Toronto faced the league-best Colorado Avalanche after three consecutive losses and surrendered early leads through turnovers. A horrendous breakout pass by Jake McCabe led to Brock Nelson's opening goal, and a failed clearance by Bobby McMann allowed Nelson's second less than seven minutes into the game. Colorado added a third off another clean zone entry late in the second period. Toronto displayed effort and energy but repeatedly used ineffective breakout plays—long aimless passes and floaters—that prevented recovery. Max Domi scored a last-minute power-play goal that served only as a consolation. Toronto entered the game five points out of a playoff spot.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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