"Every team in the NHL faces adversity one way or another. These stretches of hockey show what kind of team you truly are. It shows how they can bounce back from tough breaks, bad injuries, and simply grind out games you shouldn't be winning. As this season continues to unfold, the picture of what this Leafs team is becoming is starting to come into focus. This recent stretch shows it looks different than what we've seen in the past."
"The Maple Leafs are no longer trying to win every game by outscoring their opponents. They play a lot more tight checking low scoring hockey games, the kind of game that you need come playoff time. Many fans around the NHL call the Maple Leafs' style of play boring, but boring is a good thing. We have also seen them play different styles of games, whether that be their 2-1 tight, low-event game against the Flyers, or their 6-5 high-event game over the Jets."
"This was a noticeable change from the team we saw in the Sheldon Keefe era, which virtually saw zero success. They played a reckless brand of hockey and just tried to outscore their opponents night in and night out. This is the problem the New Jersey Devils are currently having; the only reason why it worked with the Maple Leafs was because of their superstar talent."
The Maple Leafs have shown resilience through recent adversity and have shifted toward tighter, low-scoring hockey under Craig Berube. The team emphasizes tight checking, controlled play, and adaptation to opponents instead of relying solely on outscoring them. The style yields playoff-style results and allows flexibility between low-event and high-event games. The current approach resembles the roster that won the Atlantic Division last season and contrasts with the reckless, outscore-focused tactics of the Sheldon Keefe era. Structure and contributions from depth players such as Bobby McMann, Troy Stecher, and Scott Laughton have become increasingly important.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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