Heading into tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues, the Toronto Maple Leafs aim to rebound after their worst performance of the season. The team avoided poor outings until their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets two nights ago. Despite losses to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, the team showed resilience and solid defence. Then Monday night’s standout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning showed the north-south, physical style of play head coach Craig Berube has been trying to instill. It was a Maple Leafs team at its finest.
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But the next night’s game was a different story. The Maple Leafs fell flat against the undermanned Blue Jackets, putting up one of their worst performances in recent memory. They left rookie goaltender Dennis Hildeby exposed in just his second career start. Their top line struggled, while depth players showed effort but couldn’t carry the team.
As they prepare to face Berube’s former team, the real question is: can the Maple Leafs bounce back and return to the form that saw them dominate the Lightning just a few days ago? What adjustments can they make to fix their game?
Blue Jackets Loss Was a Reminder That It’s Hard to Win in the NHL
The Maple Leafs’ 6-2 loss to the Blue Jackets was a stark reminder that even great teams can have bad nights. After dominating Tampa Bay just 24 hours earlier, Toronto fell flat. The team exposed a range of issues that need immediate attention. What went wrong in Columbus? Nearly everything—from defensive breakdowns to poor puck management and an off-night for their top players.
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With a short turnaround before facing the Blues tonight, the Maple Leafs must make critical adjustments to avoid another disappointing result. Here are three key areas that need fixing.
Adjustment #1: The Maple Leafs Must Tighten Up Their Defensive Play
One of the biggest concerns in the Columbus game was Toronto’s defensive breakdowns, especially in transition. The Maple Leafs allowed four goals off the rush, struggling to contain the speed of the Blue Jackets as they moved up the ice. They also gave up multiple rebound chances in the defensive zone. Two of these rebounds ended up in the back of their net.
Toronto’s top…
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