The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a scoring drought once again. This time they are enduring a three-game losing streak, their second such slump in January. What’s going on? David Alter gives his thoughts.
The Leafs’, recently criticised for their home crowd support, most recent struggles began against the Columbus Blue Jackets, where they could only muster a single goal in a 5-1 defeat. Despite outshooting their opponents, the Leafs failed to convert their chances, a recurring theme throughout this losing streak. The power play has continued to sputter.
The offensive woes continued in the next game against the Ottawa Senators. Again, the Leafs managed just one goal, this time in a 3-1 loss. The team’s passing was uncharacteristically sloppy, leading to turnovers and broken plays. Star players like No. 34 and Mitch Marner, usually reliable point producers, were held in check, unable to generate their usual offensive magic.
The most recent game against the Minnesota Wild further compounded the Leafs’ offensive woes. Despite outshooting the Wild, the Leafs could only find the back of the net once in a 3-1 loss. William Nylander, who has been one of the Leafs’ most consistent offensive threats this season, scored the lone goal, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.
This three-game stretch has exposed a worrying trend for the Leafs: an inability to consistently score goals. The team’s usually potent offence has suddenly gone cold again leaving them struggling to keep pace with their opponents. Several factors appear to be contributing to this slump:
– Opponent’s Defensive Adjustments: Opponents seem to have adjusted their defensive strategies, effectively neutralizing the Leafs’ offensive strengths. They have tightened their coverage on star players, limited their opportunities in high-danger areas, and successfully disrupted their power play.
– Inconsistent Passing: The Leafs’ passing, typically crisp and precise, has been uncharacteristically sloppy. This has led to turnovers, broken plays, and a lack of sustained offensive pressure.
– Scoring Droughts: Several key players are experiencing scoring droughts, further exacerbating the team’s offensive woes. Even the most skilled players go through dry spells, but the collective slump has significantly impacted the team’s ability to score.
– Power Play Struggles: The Leafs’ power play, usually a weapon, has been uncharacteristically ineffective during this stretch. They have struggled to generate scoring chances with the man advantage, failing to convert crucial opportunities.
In addition to their power play, it’s hard to ignore defenseman Morgan Rielly’s struggles. The defenseman has the worst plus-minus of any player on the team at minus-18, 12 worse than the next best player (Philippe Myers at minus-6). What was particularly concerning was how easily he seemed to lose a battle that led to the Wild’s first goal in their last game.
His confidence can’t be high. For an offensive defenseman, Rielly hasn’t been on the ice for a lot of goals. And they club hasn’t put him on the ice for the power, electing to go with five forwards on the top unit. That include times when two regular forwards are not in the lineup (John Tavares with a lower-body injury and Matthew Knies with an upper-body injury).
“I think for me, I’m doing everything I can to contribute more offensively, be up in the play, drive that without taking risk on the defensive side of things and so we’re all working together to try and play our best and that’s what we’re going to continue to do here.” Rielly said after the game against the loss against the Wild.
Putting Rielly back on PP1
This may not be a popular move but given the trajectory the defenseman is headed, it doesn’t serve the Leafs well to have him stuffed on a limited PP2 role. Especially when Toronto’s power play is 0-for-5 during this three-game losing skid. Rielly carries an annual salary cap hit of $7.5 million per season for four more years beyond this season. With just five goals and 17 assists in 51 games, the Leafs have no choice but to find a way to get him going.