Leafs Look Strong In Second Straight Win

Scoring six goals per game is great, but not when offensive chances come at the expense of defensive zone coverage. Though the Maple Leafs were scoring at an impressive clip at the outset of the regular season, those goals were coming on opportunities that were generated by sacrificing sound play in the defensive zone, one of the primary reasons for early season struggles. When they failed to score, the Maple Leafs were leaving themselves prone to counterattack chances and as a result, were often giving up as many goals as they were scoring.

Last night, for the second straight game, the Maple Leafs took care of their own zone first and then derived offense out of mistakes committed by their opponents. Despite shelling out big dollars to land two of the coveted prizes on last summer’s free agent market – Chris Drury and Scott Gomez – the Ranger newcomers have yet to fit in with their new team. In fact, this team looks a lot like a pre lockout version of the Rangers – numerous high priced individuals that are struggling to play as a team. As a result, improved play by the Maple Leafs in their defensive end and an aggressive forecheck led to the Rangers committing mistakes which the Maple Leafs turned into offense.

Pavel Kubina’s first goal of the season drew the Maple Leafs even at one goal a piece with the Rangers mid way through the second period after Jaromir Jagr had scored earlier in the period to open the scoring for the Rangers. Boyd Deveraux, who skated and forechecked well all game long, pressured Ranger netminder Hendrik Lundqvist into a turnover behind his net leading to John Pohl’s first goal of the season. His goal would become the eventual game winner as the Maple Leafs held the Rangers off the board for the remainder of the game. Nik Antropov scored an insurance marker at 17:06 of the middle frame and Chad Kilger sealed the victory with an empty net goal in the final seconds of the third period.

Vesa Toskala has appeared to gain the confidence of his teammates and Head Coach Paul Maurice who has now started the netminder in three consecutive games. Another impressive performance last night in which Toskala made thirty two stops en route to a 4-1 victory will make Maurice’s decision easy when the Maple Leafs return home to take on the Washington Capitals on Monday night.