The Toronto Maple Leafs headed down the QEW on Saturday night to take on one of their most fun opponents the Buffalo Sabres. With captain Auston Matthews ruled out for the remainder of the season following a knee injury, the team had to find a way to compete against the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres.
While they ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout, there were a few signs of life in what has been a difficult stretch since the Olympic break.
Dakota Joshua Sets the Tone
If there was one player who stood out last night, it was Dakota Joshua. He was one of the few players who showed good energy every shift. Especially during the first period. After the Sabres jumped out to an early lead, Joshua found the back of the net to tie the game, showing off the net-front presence that makes him so valuable.
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Beyond the goal, Joshua brought the physical edge that Craig Berube has been preaching all season. Shortly after his goal, he didn’t hesitate to drop the gloves with former Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn. It was a spirited fight that clearly gave his teammates a boost. Joshua finished the night with a goal and a fight, falling just an assist away from a Gordie Howe hat-trick.
Joseph Woll Keeps the Leafs in the Fight
With the Sabres controlling much of the play and outshooting Toronto 33-18, the game could have easily gotten out of hand. Joseph Woll was the primary reason it didn’t. Making his second straight start after a win against Anaheim, Woll looked calm and tracked the puck well against a high-powered Buffalo offence. He finished with 31 saves and was arguably the best player on the ice for the Maple Leafs.
Woll’s performance was especially critical given the current state of the roster. With Matthews out and the team struggling to sustain offensive pressure, the margin for error is razor thin. Woll gave them a chance to win a game they probably had no business being in, especially given the shot total. Which is exactly what you want to see from a goaltender who is still trying to cement his spot as the long term solution in net.
Adapting to Life Without Matthews
Saturday was the first real look at how this team plans to operate without their best player. The results were a mixed bag. On a positive note, William Nylander stepped up as a leader, wearing an “A” and playing heavy minutes. He made a nice pass in the second-period, on a rush to set up Max Domi for a tap-in. The goal for Domi came in his 800th career game.
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However, the lack of depth scoring remains a massive concern. Aside from the goals by Joshua and Domi, the Maple Leafs struggled to generate high-danger chances, finishing the game with only 18 shots. While the compete level was higher than we saw earlier in the week, the reality is that the remaining core members are going to have to do a lot more heavy lifting to keep this team competitive down the stretch.
Up Next for the Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs don’t have to wait long for their next game. They take on the Minnesota Wild today, a 7:30 pm. There was some reports yesterday about the potential snow storm being an issue for the Maple Leafs travelling. However, since then, there haven’t been any updates regarding it. So, it is safe to assume that the game will be a go.
