Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs’ best effort of past two weeks results in 5-1 loss
The Leafs showing up to the rink and getting massacred on the shot clock has become routine for the struggling franchise, even in the games they win. On Sunday night, the Leafs controlled possession for large portions of the game and actually ended up outshooting the Stars 28-20. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the timely save from their goaltender and happened to run into one who was making all of them. Jake Oettinger kept the Stars in the game all night and helped them survive the Leafs’ momentum bursts, paving the way for their skaters to get the job done.
The game was held to a 1-0 Stars lead until the third period before the Stars extended it. Scott Laughton scored a goal right after a penalty kill to give the Leafs a morsel of live, but the Stars continued to get shots on net and it ended up in an immediate insurance goal. Typically this isn’t the type of game that would rub fans the wrong way – they played well overall and simply ran into a strong performance from a hot goalie on a good team. But the Leafs have played so poorly for the better part of the season that moral victories won’t cut it anymore.
They have one more game before Christmas, at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, before the team will head home for a much-needed reset. It’s reached the point of the season where you should probably keep your eyes peeled for a change of some sort, probably behind the bench if anything. Even if you think this isn’t Berube’s fault, the string of performances lately seems to indicate that the team’s system is no longer working for the Maple Leafs, and it’s going to be interesting to see how much longer Brad Treliving and/or Keith Pelley tolerate it.