The Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime and live to fight another day, and their toxic, manipulative relationship with their fans does, too. They are incredible at doing just enough to ensure you cannot give up on them; no matter what, they always find a way to rope you back in. The power play still sucks, they are unable to score more than two goals, but hey, they’re still fucking alive!
It would have been silly to start anywhere but with the guy in between the pipes, and that’s because of how good Joseph Woll was. Woll was spectacular, saving 27 of 28 shots and making multiple clutch saves late in the third period and overtime.
This one on Trent Frederic was a great example of Woll’s athleticism and patience. He didn’t get overly aggressive; instead, he stuck with Frederic and gave himself enough time to stretch that right pad all the way across.
His save in overtime may have been even better, considering the circumstances. Woll has to track a hard pass from the far boards to the other side of the ice, and the shot goes back to where the goalie is pushing from. Yet, he manages to instinctually kick out his pad and save the Leafs’ season.
Woll looked calm and composed, but most importantly, he embraced the moment. He said after the game that he is “having the time of his life out there,” and it is apparent from watching him.
Toronto’s other goalie makes every save seem like he’s fighting for his life. For Woll, it’s the complete opposite. Woll’s eagerness and ability to play the puck were also helpful, given how much of a problem breakouts have been for the Leafs’ defensemen.
When the odds are stacked against you, as they are for Toronto, you look for something to rally around, something to give you belief. Right now, that thing is Joseph Woll for the Blue and White. The 25-year-old wants the ball, and he has gotten it. Now we’ll see how many innings he can go.
Another promising sign for the Leafs’ comeback chances was how they started game five, especially the play of the first line. Mitch Marner, Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi were fantastic from last night’s first puck drop. Marner, in particular, looked like he was moving his feet and hunting down pucks, something we hadn’t seen through the first four games, and I still think he can play better!
The line’s forecheck was wreaking havoc on the Bruins, and they were consistently sustaining offensive zone time. In total, they created eleven scoring chances and gave up just five.
They also were on for the first goal of the game, which came about thanks to some traffic in front of Jeremy Swayman. The Leafs need to get more bodies in front of the Bruins goalie, and more good things will happen as a result. I would seriously consider keeping this line together even when Auston Matthews returns.
Now, if they could sort out those two-on-ones, they’d really be dangerous.
Given how slowly the team came out in game four, it was frustrating to see the first-period dominance in game five, as Toronto outshot the Bruins 12-2 and had 31 shot attempts to their 7. However, it was evidence of how much better Toronto is than Boston when they use their speed as an advantage.
The Buds moved the puck low to high and generated chances off the cycle and forecheck. I’m not sure how much of a strategy change there was; more, the boys were just getting to loose pucks a lot quicker than the Bruins were.
Still, things weren’t flawless in Toronto’s zone, and the Leafs’ defensemen must take better care of the puck. The Bruins’ only goal of the game came off a brutal turnover from Simon Benoit, who is becoming a real weak spot for Toronto in their breakouts.
It may have been an unlucky bounce, but it’s also not that difficult of a pass to make, and the margins are thin in the NHL. Benoit could have gone up the boards if he hadn’t been confident in the slip pass to the middle, but he didn’t, and bad things happen when you don’t execute in your own zone. Given Benoit’s track record, it was bound to happen eventually, and it can’t happen again.
I’m unsure what the solution is, as T.J. Brodie was a disaster in game four. Toronto may be stuck with what they have, but they’ll need to be better if they come back and want to have any chance against Florida.
Nevertheless, there were two positives on the backend in game five: The play of Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe. I said before the series that, being the Leafs’ only legitimately good defensemen, they would have to elevate their games even more for Toronto to go far. Last night was exactly what I was talking about.
#22 and #44 were all over the ice, and Rielly actually led the team in five-on-five xGF% at 65%. He wasn’t only joining the rush but also getting below the hash marks and creating some headaches for the Bruins’ defensive structure.
McCabe was also putting his stamp on the game, specifically defensively. The American had some massive shot blocks and used his stick to break up odd-man rushes on multiple occasions. He has a tough job playing on his offside with Benoit, but he has performed admirably and last night was his best game of the series. The goal was a nice bonus on top of all that.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the play of overtime hero Matthew Knies, who seemingly became a man in front of our very eyes last night. Knies was using his big frame well all game, and near the end of the second period, he almost gave the Leafs the lead after winning a battle behind the net. Then he taunted David Pastrnak, laughed in his face, and gave us a moment we will cherish forever.
The goal that won the game was a great play by John Tavares. Although he was pretty bad in regulation, he made up for it by using his body to take advantage of a mismatch with a smaller guy and driving the net hard. Knies was in the right place when he needed to be, and that’s all that matters. The rookie has gotten better as the series has gone on and is becoming a real factor on that second line.
A lineup problem Sheldon Keefe must address before game six is the makeup of the fourth line. His hands may be tied, but I don’t know how he can put Ryan Reaves back out there. The line as a whole had an xGF of 1.35%, and although that isn’t entirely Reaves’s fault, his inability to do anything positive with the puck is dragging them down. He’s clearly become worn down since the series started, and he is constantly behind the play. If Matthews can play game six, it has to be Reaves who comes out.
I would like to call out Brad Marchand for getting bodied by a linesman and still trying to dive—incredible stuff. He is just the absolute worst guy, and man, that was great to see.
On a more macro level, it’s very fun to know that another Leafs gameday is on the schedule. As much as I might rag on these guys and get pissed off, I love this team, and I love watching them play hockey games. I do not want to think about the future until I absolutely have to, and at the moment, I feel pretty good about our chances of forcing a game seven. Boston looked TIGHT in game five. They looked like a team that knows what happened last year in a very similar situation. If there was ever a team due to win a game at home, it’s the Toronto fucking Maple Leafs.
I know that the building is going to be rocking, and I know that the boys will come out hot. The keys to the game are pretty simple. Move your feet, be smart in your own zone, for the love of god score on the power play, get a few saves from your goalie, and you win a hockey game.
Go Leafs Go.
The Morning Skate 