You couldn’t have dreamed a better start for the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night at the Air Canada Center.
After Mark Fraser and Cody Franson took minor penalties in the opening two minutes, the penalty killing unit and goaltender James Reimer withstood an almost 90 second 5-on-3 assault by the New York Islanders without allowing the opening goal.
Within four minutes, Joffrey Lupul and Cody Franson scored on the first two shots directed at goalie Evgeni Nabokov and it appeared that the Leafs expected New York to not answer the bell like Montreal did last Saturday, but while the Leafs metaphorically danced around the ring, the Islanders got back on their feet, brushed themselves off and fought back.
Tough guys Matt Carkner and Eric Boulton battled with enforcers Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr, providing the Isles with a needed spark and former Leafs draft pick Brad Boyes scored midway through the first to give the New Yorkers some hope.
A questionable boarding call to Leo Komarov gave the Isles another power play, leading to Matt Moulson’s goal to tie the game and an ill advised pinch from Dion Phaneuf resulted in John Tavares’ goal on a two-on-one break to give New York a lead they would never relinquish.
After their two early goals, the Leafs were on the short end of the fight for puck possession and turned over the puck with reckless abandon. By the end of the second, the Isles had increased the lead to 4-2 on Tavares club leading 26th goal of the season and had outshot Toronto 34-10.
Frans Nielsen’s goal midway through the third lengthened the lead to 5-2, but Toronto showed little ability to generate an offensive attack until they pulled their goalie with a two man advantage in the waning seconds of the game. Phaneuf scored his ninth goal of the season to close out the scoring.
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The fact most disconcerting about the Leafs play over the last two games has been the lack of focus on the defensive side of the game, coupled with an inability to generate a consistent offensive attack, Coach Randy Carlyle shook up his forward lines for most of the second and third periods, in search of a combination that worked.
Center Nazem Kadri was again a non-factor on Thursday, as he has been for the entire month of April. After scoring a hat trick against Ottawa on March 30th and earning a smooch from Hockey Night In Canada’s Don Cherry, Kadri led the Leafs with 39 points and a +20 plus/minus. Since then, he has registered just two assists in eight games and his plus/minus has fallen to +14.
Jake Gardiner also struggled in the game, playing just over 20 minutes alongside Dion Phaneuf. The pairing combined for four points, but their collective defensive shortcomings resulted in both New York even strength goals in the first period.
Phaneuf has played most effectively when paired with Carl Gunnarsson, a solid stay-at-home defenseman who allows the Leafs captain to take more offensive chances.
Gunnarsson has sat the last three games to give his injured hip some rest before the playoffs, but the Swedish blueliner practiced this morning before the club left for Ottawa and may make his return for Saturday’s key matchup against the Senators at Scotiabank Place.
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