Leaf Takeaways: Woll’s wall cracks in a series of Toronto mishaps

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This was a game last season’s Maple Leafs could have won, in regulation if not overtime.

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But given the 20-plus point differential between the also-ran Leafs and the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes, a point in a comeback extra-frame loss equated to a productive evening Friday at Scotiabank Arena.

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Our takeaways from the Leafs’ 13th post-regulation defeat:

THE GIVING SEASON

On a night their good deeds against a great team were undermined by 14 giveaways, Toronto had a regrettable second period with a short-handed and power-play goal against, sandwiched by the Canes’ penalty shot conversion.

NHL Stats filed that triple mishap the first in the league in the past 14 months to occur in the same frame, since Ottawa defeated Washington 5-4 in overtime Jan. 25, 2025.

Toronto was a split second away from killing a double minor to Brandon Carlo when Jordan Staal scored. Then winger Eric Robinson surprised Joseph Woll on his shot after Troy Stecher hauled him down on a breakaway and Morgan Rielly coughed up a puck to K’Andre Miller for the shorty.

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All are definite no-no’s when taking on the heavily-structured Canes who have not deviated in years from coach Rod Brind’Amour’s tactics.

“We play an in-your-face type of game and the goal is to take away time and space,” defenceman Jacob Slavin said before the contest.  “It’s hard, it’s suffocating, so when we’re on our game, it’s really hard for teams.”

John Tavares realized that as the middle-period mistakes unfolded.

“They were able to draw a lot of penalties and put us on our heels quite a bit. We get an opportunity (ending up on Miller’s goal) and that’s on all of us to do a better job in that situation because we know how aggressive they are and in sync.

“That was our opportunity (to take the lead) and sometimes that’s all you’re going to get.”

Head coach Craig Berube said the Leafs “didn’t recognize the pressure” on Miller’s goal. Toronto is 0-for-8 on the power play in the past four games.

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WOLL STALLS

For all the saves he made to keep the Leafs in this game (33) and get a single point, there were a couple he will want back.

Woll, who had plenty of breakaway practice the day before when the team had a 3-on-3 and shootout competition, was beaten on breakaways by fourth-liner Robinson on the penalty shot and defenceman Miller, who has five goals this season.

“That’s something I’ll take a look at, talk with Curtis (Sanford, the goalie coach), work on at practice,” Woll said of the 1-on-1’s.

Overtime lasted as long as it took Alexander Nikishin to get the first shot on Woll.

“At the end, I know we need a save,” Berube said, having put faith in starting Woll in more recent games ahead of Anthony Stolarz.

MARCH MADNESS LINE

Speaking of putting stock in certain Leafs, Berube started the night with his new third line of Bo Groulx between Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua and they produced the opening goal. Between them, on the line or separated, that’s 18 points this month.

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If some people want the Leafs to be tanking to reach bottom five league status and retain their first-round draft pick, this unlikely trio aren’t helping.

“The whole line was pretty good for us,” Berube said, having preached about getting more pucks on net for the top two units “The first goal was a great example, just a nothing shot and a rebound they put in. It’s a mindset to get more pucks to the net.”

They’ll have to pick up on that Saturday in Ottawa.

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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