"The last three wins have been really tough games to assess from an analytical point of view, given that the Leafs have built multi-goal leads early in all of them. The five-on-five high-danger chances are 55% in Toronto's favour despite the shot attempts being just 37% in their favour, and they've out-scored the opposition 8-1 from the high-danger areas. With an anaemic power play contributing nothing, they've scored on a ridiculous 22% of their five-on-five shots (13 goals on 59 shots)."
"To the eye, it's looked more like the formula that led to division-title-winning regular-season success last season. They've felt more in control of these games; defending a little bit better, breaking out a bit better, forechecking a bit better, and holding onto leads a lot better. But when sticks are red hot at one end and the goaltending is so sharp at the other, it can also be difficult to parse out perception vs. reality regarding the process behind a team's results."
"Sitting just there before Matthew Knies' brilliant solo effort five minutes into the second to make it a 3-1 Leafs lead, you couldn't honestly feel great about the Leafs ' play. They led 2-1 thanks to a wild bounce off the end boards from a routine dump-in leading to a Scott Laughton goal, but they had a rough finish to the first period, bookending the Morgan Rielly penalty, and the first five minutes of the second before Knies' goal were decidedly one-sided in Carolina's favour."
Toronto Maple Leafs went 4-1-0 on a five-game road trip, outscoring opponents 16-4 with three straight wins, including victories in Florida and Carolina. In the last three wins, the Leafs built early multi-goal leads, generating 55% of five-on-five high-danger chances despite only 37% of shot attempts and outscoring opponents 8-1 in high-danger areas. The power play remained ineffective while five-on-five finishing hit 22% (13 goals on 59 shots). Play appeared more controlled with better defending, improved breakouts, stronger forechecking, and superior lead management. Joseph Woll delivered several key saves amid Hurricanes' heavier shot and zone possession.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]