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On an evening that the Nationwide Hockey League was calling the Frozen Frenzy with all 32 groups in motion, the Maple Leafs had been iced out.
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Our takeaways from the Leafs’ 6-2 loss in Columbus towards the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night time:
RESPONSE IS KEY
The Leafs put up little battle because the Jackets opened a 3-0 lead within the first interval and added two extra within the second to go up 5-0 earlier than Matthew Knies scored.
Toronto was 5-0-2 in its earlier seven video games towards Columbus and captain Auston Matthews had scored not less than one objective in 9 consecutive video games versus the Jackets. Neither mattered because the Leafs had no traction of their second sport of a back-to-back set after soundly beating Tampa Bay at house on Monday.
The Leafs didn’t play with construction, made unhealthy choices and had no bodily impression at Nationwide Enviornment.
“It boils right down to they out-skated us,” coach Craig Berube advised media in Columbus. “They out-worked us they usually had been a tougher crew than we had been. Backside line.”
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In different phrases, the Leafs had been every part they weren’t of their first six video games beneath Berube. It simply was their worst 60 minutes of hockey within the early phases of 2024-25.
“They introduced their greatest and we introduced our worst,” Mitch Marner mentioned. “Flush it down the bathroom. Sport is over with, can’t do something about it now. Prepare for (their subsequent sport on) Thursday.”
Mentioned Matthews: “These video games occur typically. It’s powerful, it’s irritating, you hope it’s a one-off. You progress on.”
It was certainly one of 82 video games on the schedule. If you wish to be of the opinion that it was typical Leafs to play right down to a lesser opponent, go forward.
We have a look at this manner. By the primary half-dozen video games, there was sufficient proof that Berube’s preaching of taking part in with larger chew, grit and persistence had discovered its mark. Toronto was sound defensively and had loads of cohesion. It didn’t win 4 of six to start out as a result of it obtained fortunate.
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It occurred sufficient to have Leafs Nation feeling that an actual change was within the air.
And the fan base ought to nonetheless really feel that manner.
Nonetheless, the place the Leafs can actually make a mark is at house on Thursday night time towards the St. Louis Blues, Berube’s former crew.
The response to the loss towards the Jackets ought to inform us extra about this crew than something that occurred in Columbus. We don’t think about they are going to be as unhealthy. As we mentioned, the style during which they performed their first six video games didn’t come by chance.
Berube, in the meantime, didn’t have an replace on ahead Max Pacioretty, who left the sport after the second interval with a lower-body damage.
Ahead Ryan Reaves drew again into the lineup and David Kampf was a wholesome scratch. Berube threw his traces right into a blender as the sport progressed. Nothing was going to avoid wasting Toronto.
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HILDE-LEAST, FOR ONE NIGHT
On an evening that the Leafs desperately wanted to be bailed out by their goaltender, it didn’t occur in Dennis Hildeby’s second NHL begin.
Hildeby was shaky at instances and served up some huge rebounds, giving the Jackets extra scoring alternatives than they wanted.
Hildeby was crushed six instances on 38 photographs, 12 days after he gained in his NHL debut with 21 saves towards the New Jersey Devils.
It’s quickly going to be time for Hildeby to go again to the Toronto Marlies, with Joseph Woll across the nook from making his season debut. Massive gaps between begins for Hildeby gained’t occur with the Marlies. He must get the majority of begins within the American Hockey League, at the same time as Artur Akhtyamov and Matt Murray have been robust within the early going.
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Berube mentioned on Monday that it was attainable that Woll would begin in Columbus, however that was delay.
Woll nonetheless isn’t utterly able to play after experiencing some tightness in his groin, and because the Leafs have a scheduled break day on Wednesday, don’t count on him to start out on Thursday.
Reality be advised, Anthony Stolarz, with the best way he has been taking part in, deserves to be in objective towards the Blues. If Woll is prepared, he can again up.
If Woll doesn’t begin till Saturday in Boston towards the Bruins or in Winnipeg towards the Jets on Monday on the Leafs’ two-game journey, so be it.
NICK STRIKES
Had the Leafs failed to attain greater than the one objective equipped by Knies late within the second interval, nothing constructive may very well be taken out of the sport.
And, true, scoring your crew’s second objective in a lopsided loss quantities to little on the given night time.
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For Nick Robertson, although, lastly scoring his first objective of the common season after lighting up opposing goalies within the preseason must be seen as a jumping-off level.
Berube hadn’t been dissatisfied with Robertson’s total sport, and the 23-year-old was making an attempt to take care of his confidence as every match handed and he had not recorded his first level, by no means thoughts his first objective.
However the longer it went with out erasing these zeroes, the higher probability that doubt was going to start out nibbling away at Robertson’s psychological state.
When Robertson moved to his backhand to beat Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov at 13:03 of the third interval, we are able to think about there was a way of reduction. Each different Leafs ahead who performed in every of the primary six video games had not less than one level.
There’s little question that Robertson has extra to offer offensively. He went into Tuesday with solely eight photographs on objective after which scored on his solely shot.
Now, to start out scoring with larger regularity. Robertson is getting the possibility he desired. It’s time to start out taking fuller benefit.
X: @koshtorontosun
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