It was a comprehensive rout on Wednesday evening as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-2 in a result that was perhaps flattering to the opponent. Bobby McMann scored two goals, Auston Matthews recorded his first as Maple Leafs’ captain, while John Tavares and William Nylander added singles in the winning effort.
Here are five observations from Toronto’s 5-2 victory:
Bobby McMann is irreplaceable in the Maple Leafs’ lineup
We’ve expanded on McMann being irreplaceable in the Maple Leafs’ lineup in a larger post-game essay, but he was the best player on the ice by some distance in a two-goal effort, and it should punctuate the notion that he can’t be moved out barring injury.
McMann’s first goal was due to timely positioning, as Max Domi’s centring pass caromed off Vladislav Gavrikov into the slot and he buried it for a 1-0 lead. It was a clever read from McMann, but his second goal exemplified why he’s clearly one of the Maple Leafs’ best 12 forwards.
As the Maple Leafs piled on the Kings during an excellent first period, William Nylander flew up the ice down the wing in a routine sequence, but McMann exploited a seemingly exhausted Gavrikov and turned on the burners, skating past the Kings for a breakaway before tucking it home for a Wednesday brace at Scotiabank Arena.
McMann didn’t just get on the scoresheet, he hounded pucks down constantly and delivered a massive hit on Kings defenceman Mikey Anderson, drawing some rousing cheers from the upper bowl.
McMann dropped Anderson pic.twitter.com/gIbTyGqqo5
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 17, 2024
It was a terrific all-around performance from McMann and though Berube is holding the rights to make any lineup decision he’d like in the opening weeks of the season, McMann ought to have cemented his place in the lineup going forward.
Auston Matthews rewarded for chance generation with 1st goal of season
Auston Matthews scored his first goal of the season, which doubled as his first goal as Maple Leafs’ captain. Matthews generated a ton of chances through the opening three games, which didn’t end up on the scoresheet, but you could sense his relief when he notched Toronto’s second tally of the contest.
SONK & SNIPE 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/1Ae6KpquWF
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 17, 2024
Toronto’s first line consisting of Matthews, Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies outshot opponents 30-13 in all situations throughout the first three games of the season, and hounded Los Angeles throughout the contest. Knies-Matthews-Marner were outshot 9-6 by the Kings, but you could toss the stats out for the eye test, which perhaps seems too convenient, until you realize that the line generated a goal at 5-on-5, while Matthews and Marner both recorded two assists on the power play, capping off a three-assist night for Marner overall.
Matthews is now on the board, and it seems like a matter of time before the goals start flying in. The reigning Rocket Richard winner downplayed any concern about the power play post-game, after the team recorded its first two goals on the man advantage this season. It was only a matter of time before Toronto’s first line was rewarded for its chance generation, with Matthews at the forefront.
Max Pacioretty’s healthy scratch speaks to Maple Leafs’ depth
Max Pacioretty was rendered a healthy scratch Wednesday, after taking part in the optional morning skate. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided a brief answer, before expanding on the decision later during his post-game media availability.
“It’s just a decision I made. That’s it,” Berube said.
“There’s no message. We have guys, we have extra players, and not everybody can play every night, that’s the bottom line. He’s been fine when he’s played, but I gotta make decisions as a coach, and I’m gonna make those decisions what I think is best for the team.”
It holds up against reason. Toronto boasts a surplus of NHL-ready forwards at the moment and naturally, there’s going to be an odd man out. Pacioretty may have been a logical choice against a Kings team that is haemorrhaging goals at the moment and he could factor back into the lineup when called upon. We’re four games into the season and ultimately Berube is still working through line combinations, although there’s little reason to adjust the groups with the Maple Leafs on a three-game winning streak entering Saturday’s contest against the New York Rangers.
Liljegren’s middling debut keeps the No. 6 defenceman debate alive
Timothy Liljegren made his first appearance of the season after being rendered a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season, replacing Conor Timmins. Liljegren was considered the favourite to retain the role but was outplayed by Timmins during camp and had to wait his turn until he could enter the lineup.
“He has ability,” Berube said of Liljegren after Wednesday’s optional morning skate. “Skating, moving the puck, things like that. He should be a good puck-mover. It’s about managing his game, managing his puck movement and making good decisions with it. Not risky ones. It’s simple, just simplify. And then you’ve got to win your battles. As a defenceman, it’s important that you’re defending well and you’re strong on your net-front and you’re winning those board battles, corner battles. He’s got to do that.”
It wasn’t a banner night for Liljegren but he did play with the physicality that was demanded of him. Unfortunately, it led to a cross-checking penalty in the second period, a borderline call to be sure, but one that resulted in a trip to the box after taking down Warren Foegele. And while Liljegren generally played a risk-averse game, Toronto was outshot 8-2 when he was on the ice at 5-on-5.
Liljegren is called for cross-checking pic.twitter.com/rfwzwdHeY9
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 17, 2024
We’re not going to bury Liljegren’s performance in the numbers entirely and he had a few stellar shifts on the penalty kill, while getting a first look during a 4-on-4 scenario in the first period.
“He was fine,” Berube said post-game of Liljegren’s performance. “He was out there killing penalties. He got what 14 minutes, 5-on-5? I don’t know what it was, the minutes. He was pretty solid.”
We’re not going to play pop psychologist per se, but it does seem to indicate that no firm decision has been made about Liljegren ahead of Saturday’s game against the Rangers. Could Phillippe Myers get his first look of the regular season? We’ll find out in the coming days but Toronto’s much-debated No. 6 defence role is still seemingly up for grabs, despite Liljegren meeting some of Berube’s criteria.
John Tavares is going to scorch opponents in No. 3 centre role
John Tavares returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins with an illness. Tavares told TSN’s Mark Masters that he lost eight pounds as a result, but he worked his way back into the lineup and delivered some stellar results.
It could’ve been a banner night for Tavares, as he missed a golden opportunity in the slot — the first of which coming on a perfect pass from Mitch Marner that Tavares misfired during the first period. He improved as the game went on, and if he’s placed against bottom-six competition, he’s going to be in for another stellar season, in what’s been a borderline Hall of Fame career.
Tavares misses the net
good look from the top unit early pic.twitter.com/sMessj2V5b
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 16, 2024
Perched in his nominal spot net-front on the power play, Tavares scooped a puck over Pheonix Copley for Toronto’s sixth goal, and its second power play goal of the contest. He’s going to get results against teams that are ill-equipped to deal with his positional sense and for now, the constant referendum on Toronto’s power play has come to a merciful end.
So nasty it could make you 6-2 your stomach 🤢 pic.twitter.com/nKiQA7lLWx
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 17, 2024
Tavares now has goals in consecutive games and he’s working his way back into top form, after an illness depleted some of his energy. If this is what Tavares’ decline looks like, virtually every team in the league would be so fortunate to see their 34-year-old star centre continue to generate returns that are similar to his October thus far.
