The Toronto Maple Leafs wish to bounce again from a three-game dropping streak as they head into Rogers Place on Saturday night time to face the Edmonton Oilers. After struggling to attain throughout their latest droop, the Maple Leafs hope to interrupt by means of towards a troublesome Oilers squad. It may not be simple.
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The Maple Leafs and Oilers have a long-standing rivalry. Many would argue that these franchises are the face of hockey in English Canada. Each groups boast elite superstars; and, on every other night time, this recreation would doubtless be anticipated to turn out to be a battle of offensive firepower. However the Maple Leafs haven’t held up their finish of the cut price. For such a high-scoring workforce, they merely can’t rating. Chilly is an understatement.
Toronto’s problem might be to unravel Edmonton’s protection and get its stars again on observe. Edmonton appears to be like to proceed its latest success and capitalize on the Maple Leafs’ struggles.
Merchandise One: Can the Maple Leafs Break Their Scoring Drought?
The Maple Leafs’ offensive struggles have been evident throughout their dropping skid. They’ve scored only one purpose in every of their final three video games. Whereas that’s been a part of head coach Craig Berube’s plan, he in all probability didn’t count on it to be this poor an offensive exhibiting. He needed to get a playoff-seasoned workforce used to enjoying tight and shut video games, however he didn’t need them to lose most of them.
Berube acknowledged his workforce’s challenges with execution of their latest 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. “Whenever you’re not scoring and issues aren’t getting into, you’re taking a bit further second to shoot and attempt to get a bit bit too cute,” Berube defined. Regardless of outshooting the Wild 33-25, Toronto couldn’t convert on its probabilities, with the coach noting that it’s only a powerful stretch that they’ll must energy by means of. In the event you’ve been following Berube’s critique of the workforce, you typically hear the phrase “cute” as a pejorative. He despises “cute.”
One participant to control is Auston Matthews. The previous Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner was held scoreless for the second straight recreation after a five-game purpose streak. Matthews has been dominant for the Maple Leafs this season, scoring 11 targets and eight assists over his final 14 video games. Can he rediscover his scoring contact and lead the Maple Leafs’ offense out of this dry spell?
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On the plus facet, the Maple Leafs’ protection and goaltending have been regular by means of the workforce’s losses. They’ll have to proceed that tonight. The workforce is nose-diving and wishes greater than robust shot totals to win in Edmonton.
The Maple Leafs’ offensive stars should begin to ship on this Western highway swing. For as poorly because the Florida Panthers have been enjoying, they’ve retaken the lead within the Atlantic Division. And the Ottawa Senators are surging. Who would’ve thought they’d be nipping on the heels of the Maple Leafs presently of the season?
Merchandise Two: Maple Leafs Followers Ought to Anticipate Somebody Coming Again from Harm Tonight
The Maple Leafs might be getting a ahead again from damage. They made a transfer involving Jacob Quillan. The 22-year-old was reassigned to the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies on Friday, which suggests a roster spot is opening up for one of many injured forwards to return to the lineup for tonight’s recreation. Whereas it’s unclear which participant might be coming off the injured checklist, this transfer signifies that assistance is on its method.
Quillan, who made his NHL debut final Saturday, recorded no factors and one hit in simply 5:21 of ice time. In 35 AHL video games this season with the Marlies, he’s registered six targets and 15 factors. Whereas his time within the NHL was transient, he didn’t look misplaced. This reassignment paves the best way for one of many workforce’s injured forwards to rejoin the workforce for tonight’s recreation.
Merchandise Three: Speculating on Both Tavares or Knies Returning
The Maple Leafs ought to get an efficient increase with the potential return of Matthew Knies and John Tavares. Each gamers have been coping with accidents—Knies with an upper-body challenge and Tavares with a lower-body damage. Nonetheless, stories counsel they might be within the lineup tonight. Knies has missed the final two video games, is predicted to return after a short stint on the injured checklist, and will slide again onto the highest line.
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Tavares, who has been sidelined for six video games, resumed skating earlier this week and appears prepared to come back again. If he may return to his common spot because the workforce’s second-line middle, that may be an enormous increase to the lacking scoring. Throughout his absence, it’s apparent how vital Tavares is to the workforce’s success. He’s been missed.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
If each Tavares and Knies return to the lineup, the Maple Leafs will achieve a much-needed offensive increase. They doubtless hope these reinforcements can assist ignite their offense, which has struggled throughout their dropping streak. The reality is that I’ve frankly been shocked by the workforce’s lack of scoring. Is it a Berube system factor, or is the workforce actually made up of aces and areas, because the previous bridge (the cardboard recreation) saying goes?
