Whether it was weariness from their Western Canada road trip, the effects of the ‘spring ahead’ time change, the impact of illness running rampant through their locker room or just simply not being up to the task of facing the NHL’s best club, the Toronto Maple Leafs were not ready for the Tampa Bay Lightning, losing 6-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
The Leafs were unable to contain the more energetic Lightning, who took a 2-0 lead in the first on goals from Tyler Johnson and Anthony Cirelli and chased goalie Frederik Andersen two more goals early in the second 30 seconds apart. Auston Matthews finally got the Leafs on the board, but Cedric Paquette’s shorthanded goal late in the middle frame snuffed out any Toronto momentum.
“We were no good. (The Lightning) were better than us from start to finish.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. (They) won more battles, more races, and just had more jump. We looked like a lethargic group right from the get-go. We didn’t have any energy right through our whole group. Didn’t skate well. Didn’t execute well. Weren’t good.”
Zach Hyman missed Monday’s morning skate due to illness and played an uncharacteristically low 12:45 on the night, while Kasperi Kapanen was a late scratch from the lineup for ‘precautionary reasons due to illness’ and was replaced by Tyler Ennis.
Toronto missed an opportunity to gain ground on Boston with their game in hand in the race for second place. The loss keeps the Leafs four points in back of the Bruins with 13 games left in the regular season. With Toronto playing three games in four nights later this week, Babcock has opted to give his team a day away from the rink prior to Wednesday’s matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks.
“We are going to take an off day (Tuesday) and get our energy level up. We were going to take an off-day Thursday; we just changed that and we’ll take the off day tomorrow to get ourselves regrouped and back on track.”
Soon after the game, video footage surfaced of a homophobic slur being picked up by the arena microphone while Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was skating towards the Toronto zone.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas made the following statement this evening following their game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning: pic.twitter.com/o6RaA7zTQS
With NCAA clubs being eliminated in their conference tournaments, NHL teams have begun pursuing undrafted college free agents in earnest. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs are looking at 21-year-old defenseman Joseph Duszak of Mercyhurst University. The Franklin Square, NY native is a right-handed shot and led his club with 47 points (16 goals and 31 assists) this season.
The 5' 10", 185 lb. Duszak is a good skater and decent defender, who can make long outlet passes and can play the penalty kill, according to Sportsology’s Russ Cohen.
The Leafs shortcomings on defense may be an advantage to them in the pursuit of college and European free agents, since a major factor for them is the opportunity to move up in an organization and get to the NHL. With the Leafs short on righties, it may provide youngsters like Timothy Liljegren, the recently signed Mac Hollowell and free agents like Duszak a quicker path to the NHL if they perform well.
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