3 takeaways from Leafs-Panthers: Joshua-Roy-McMann on fire, Stecher rewarded for excellent start
After a quiet opening five minutes, Troy Stecher recorded his first goal of the season, beating Sergei Bobrovsky from the point. Stecher has been an excellent find for the Maple Leafs since being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Dakota Joshua scored a beautiful insurance goal, after Stecher flicked a vertical pass into the air, Bobby McMann tracked it, and found his linemate in front of the net. Scott Laughton added his first goal of the season during the third period, while John Tavares sealed the victory with an empty-netter.
Joseph Woll was excellent when called upon, making 26 of 27 saves.
Most impressive win of the Leafs’ season, no qualifiers needed.
Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 victory over the Panthers:
Troy Stecher rewarded for excellent start with the Maple Leafs
Troy Stecher joined the Maple Leafs with an admitted chip on his shoulder, coming off waivers from the Oilers. Stecher has been excellent during his time with the club, and was finally rewarded with a critical goal to start the contest.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Stecher posted a plus-two goal differential at 5-on-5, while the Maple Leafs controlled 62.5 percent of the expected goals and 54 percent of the shot attempts via Natural Stat Trick. Considering his uptick in usage with a wave of injuries, these are excellent numbers, which also matched the eye test. Stecher’s mobility and penchant for smart, quick exits provided the team with a new wrinkle on the blue line, and it’s certainly paying off three weeks into his tenure with the Maple Leafs.
Troy Stecher has his first as a Leaf!!!!!
📽️: TSN | NHL
“It’s great. I don’t do it often, so it feels nice when you get one,” Stecher said of his goal, post-game. “I told (Easton) Cowan and (Nick) Robertson I was going to get one tonight, and I actually did. I promise I tell myself that every game. It’s nice to contribute. It was a big goal at that moment, gave us a lead, and we never looked back.”
Stecher was outstanding in all facets Tuesday. Shortly after his goal, he flicked the puck up the ice following a defensive zone faceoff. Bobby McMann tracked the puck, and then found Dakota Joshua in front of the net, who dangled Sergei Bobrovsky for the insurance goal. Stecher was on the ice for three Leafs goals for, and the team controlled 68.3 percent of the expected goals when he was on the ice at 5-on-5. He won puck battles, he skated out of the zone with ease, and didn’t allow the Panthers to suppress with the Leafs with their patented 1-2-2 forecheck.
from Stecher’s goal onwards, this is the closest approximation to how Berube wants the Leafs to play, and then came the Reinhart goal. Leafs need to sustain their 5-on-5 play. Would say ‘just hold on’ but that’s way too passive, the details/approach/forecheck are much better.
It was an outstanding game from Stecher, and he’s quickly proving to be one of Brad Treliving’s best additions thus far.
Dakota Joshua, Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy should be the permanent third line
It took 26 games, but the Maple Leafs have found their permanent third line. Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann have caught fire over the past two games, and don’t appear to be looking back anytime soon.
We’ve gone over Joshua’s goal a few times in this space, but it’s worth another look. Joshua is playing with real confidence in the offensive zone, he’s making smart plays in tight spaces near the net, and he’s using his frame to run opponents over.
DJ is heating up!!!!!
📽️: TSN | NHL
Joshua also drew a critical third-period penalty on Evan Rodrigues, allowing the Maple Leafs to eat up the clock with a 3-1 lead. He’s played his two best games of the year since being listed as a healthy scratch, and now the team has found a real, working third line.
Nicolas Roy was a menace in the faceoff circle, winning 12-of-15 draws on the evening. Roy set a strong screen on Stecher’s goal and many believed that he tipped the puck, although he refuted this during a first intermission interview.
Bobrovsky robs Roy as he and Matthews go for a shorthanded goal
Roy almost scored a beautiful, short-handed goal, working a 2-on-1 with Auston Matthews in the third period. Sergei Bobrovsky made a highlight-reel stop to rob Roy, but it didn’t deter the Leafs’ centre. He continued to win faceoffs, generate shots for his line, and it was a stellar game.
As for McMann, his speed, physicality (three hits) and offensive acumen were on full display. McMann’s biggest issue is his consistency, which could also be said of his linemates. Joshua-Roy-McMann outshot the Panthers 6-5, which looks more flattering to their opponent than it should. Toronto has found its third line, after a series of excellent games on the road.
The 5-forward power play experiment ought to be over
The five-forward power play experiment is officially over. Toronto allowed a short-handed goal to Sam Reinhart, a comedy of defensive errors. We’re not going to point out every error on the play, the video speaks for itself, and it was perhaps the lone real blemish on the evening.
Reinhart gets one back
📽️: TSN | NHL
We’re not assigning fault to the initial idea, as the Maple Leafs’ power play has been completely dormant this season, connecting at a 15.2 percent clip, the 27th-best total in the NHL. Holding a critical man advantage with 3:08 left in the third period, defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson joined the first power play unit. It’s likely that Ekman-Larsson will be the new power play quarterback entering Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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