LEAFS-RANGERS TAKEAWAYS: Much work to do before they can run with East powers

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Published Oct 20, 2024  •  4 minute read

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) pins New York Rangers centre Vincent Trocheck (16) onto the back of goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Photo by Cole Burston /THE CANADIAN PRESS

The Maple Leafs were handed their second loss of the season, 4-1, by last year’s Eastern Conference finalist New York Rangers on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena, the final score inflated by two empty-net goals. Our takeaways: 

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TESTING, TESTING 

This was going to be the hardest of the first five matches on Toronto’s schedule, with New York yet to lose in regulation (now 4-0-1). But Leafs coach Craig Berube has to be disappointed that some recurring problems dog his offence at 5-on-5 and power play, with all due respect to Igor Shesterkin’s 34 saves for the Rangers, including a spectacular glove save on John Tavares. 

“We had opportunities, could have taken (Shesterkin’s) eyes away a little bit more,” Berube said. “We had a lot of looks. We have to execute better on that third-period power play (one of three the Leafs frittered away) and the 6-on-5 (that surrendered two empty-netters).” 

Before this match, any fan aged 19 and over could’ve created a drinking game each time they heard Berube or a frustrated Leafs forward utter the term “simplify” or “more direct” in lamenting the team’s tendency to over-pass. But the trouble Saturday wasn’t a lack of shots, so much as hitting the net with them. William Nylander fired wide on a breakaway, with Matthew Knies and Jake McCabe also going high or astray. Auston Matthews led the Leafs with nine shots and their only goal. 

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Last year’s Presidents Trophy winners were full marks, however. The Blueshirts are a team the Leafs want to be by April.

Toronto did hold a 35-29 edge in shots on goal and applied a strong forecheck trailing 2-1 in the third that could’ve paid off in a tying goal. 

“A great effort tonight,” said goalie Anthony Stolarz. “A playoff-style game against a real good team, one we’re going to see a lot of down the road.” 

Speaking of which, these clubs haven’t met in a playoff series since 1971. 

DIALING FOR STOLARZ 

Joseph Woll, Matt Murray, Dennis Hildeby, or whoever gets the next assignment in net for Toronto, will have a tough act to follow in Stolarz. 

Through four games, he’s holding a .937 save percentage, doing exactly as envisioned when signed from Florida to spell off Woll or push him. Woll’s lower body injury has been the 30-year-old’s chance to prove he’s more than a backup and that he can hold this job through any injury crisis that has cursed the Leafs stable in recent seasons. 

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“He’s been great all year and it’s on us to support him.” said defenceman Morgan Rielly.

Stolarz’s 25 stops Saturday were complicated when he lost his skate blade with 40 seconds to go in the second period. He was forced to play from his knees until the period-ending buzzer, then needed to be helped off the ice. 

The goalie found out the hard way that officials won’t whistle the play dead when such equipment misfortune occurs, as they don’t for a forward or defenceman in the same situation. The Rangers buzzed around the almost helpless Stolarz for the final few moments of the period, but didn’t have to make any saves.

“I understand if there’s an imminent scoring chance,” said Stolarz. “But I didn’t do it on purpose and, at the end of the day, it’s about player safety. I’m sitting there, not realizing (the blade is off), I’m kicking out and your groin is going. 

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“The puck was at the other end (when the blade fell off), and I don’t really understand why they can blow it and fix the skate, even if the faceoff is in our zone.” 

In the third period, Stolarz came close to being accidentally cut by teammate Simon Benoit’s skate blade. 

“I looked down and saw a skate inside my pad,” Stolarz said. “Benny’s kind of got up in there and I felt something. I wear those cut-proof socks, I had an incident in junior so maybe there was a little PTSD there, I didn’t know if I felt anything or if there was a cut.” 

SOUR POWER 

Had the Leafs scored on their third and final power play of the night, Berube and nearly 19,000 at Scotiabank Arena would’ve been in a more forgiving mood as they filed home. 

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The coach did accurately note that they were at least pointed in the right direction with the extra man to start the game, but he — and no doubt assistant coach Marc Savard — were peeved that the last minor, with Jacob Trouba in the box, did not amount to more. 

“It didn’t look like they were over-thinking it early on,” he said. “They did some good things, got some good looks (John Tavares in the slot) and attacked.  

“The one that disappointed me in the third, we didn’t execute very well, our entries. We turned it over a couple of times. When the game is on the line right there and you have the opportunity to tie it up, we have to have more.” 

This stat can’t be an albatross for Berube or Savard, but the Leafs are now 3-for-37 going back to last spring’s seven-game playoffs loss to Boston. The Leafs like to speak of “a  world-class” power play with Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Mitch Marner and now arguably a better blue-line quarterback in Oliver Ekman-Larsson ahead of Rielly. 

Yes, it’s early, but this was a problem area considered easy to fix. 

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