The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night and secured a convincing 6-2 victory, pushing their record to 3-1-0 to start the season. The win showcased the Maple Leafs’ dominant first period but highlighted some areas that still needed improvement as the game progressed.
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The Maple Leafs got off to a flying start, scoring three goals in the opening period and maintaining control for much of the night. At the same time, the team’s top-six stars came alive for the first time this season. However, the team’s struggles in the second and third periods left room for concern. Here, I’ll break down what worked for the Maple Leafs and what areas they need to fix moving forward.
Five Things That Worked for the Maple Leafs
1. The Maple Leafs Core Players Stepped Up
The Maple Leafs’ core players delivered in a big way. Auston Matthews, who had been searching for his first goal of the season, finally broke through with a goal and two assists. Mitch Marner entered his usual playmaker mode, registering three assists. William Nylander also added a goal and an assist to his impressive start to the season. John Tavares also chipped in with a goal, showing that the team’s most talented forwards were firing on all cylinders.
2. Nylander-Domi-McMann Line Shines
Head Coach Craig Berube decided to split his top four forwards across three lines, and the move paid off. Nylander, Max Domi, and Bobby McMann were Toronto’s best line of the game. McMann, known for scoring in bursts, scored two goals. Meanwhile, Domi added two assists, and Nylander was everywhere on the ice, contributing offensively and defensively. Each line member finished the game with a plus-3 rating, underlining their dominant performance.
3. Maple Leafs Special Teams Delivered
The Maple Leafs’ power play had struggled early in the season, but it finally found its rhythm in this game. The team went 2-for-4 with the man advantage, providing a needed offensive boost. On the penalty kill, Toronto was perfect, killing off all four Kings’ power-play opportunities. Berube credited special teams and goaltending as reasons for the team’s success on the night.
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