Roadtrip in Review

With the Toronto Maple Leafs getting set to take the ice back home at the Air Canada Center for the first time since October 17th, we take a look back at the five game roadtrip to see if anything has changed since their abysmal seven game start to the season.

The Leafs started out the season with a winless record of 0-6-1 managing to steal just one point of the initial fourteen available. During that time they had a -18 goal differential after being outscored 32 – 14 by opponents. Since then, while on their five game roadtrip, they have been able to secure five of a possible ten points to end the month of October. While away from home, the Leafs were able to finish with a 1-1-3 record and a respectable -1 goal differential, being outscored just 17 – 16 in the last five games.

Although I was unable to see the entirety of their five game roadtrip, I was able to see enough of each game to notice some key changes to the Toronto Maple Leafs style of play that could explain the better record as of late.

The first thing I noticed came in the third period against Vancouver on October 24th when the Leafs were down 2 – 1. With Toronto fighting to tie it up, the Leafs’ defence began pinching in the offensive zone to keep the puck in deep and maintain pressure. Although this didn’t result in a goal, it gave Toronto multiple scoring chances and opportunities that could very well have tied the game had Roberto Luongo not played as well as he did in that final period.

“Roberto tonight gave us a chance to win this game” said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. “They played a really strong game, they had a lot of scoring chances, but our goaltender was the best player on the ice tonight.” (Yahoo! Sports Canada, Oct. 24, 2009)

This type of play shows promise, especially against a fast and skillful team like the Vancouver Canucks. It demonstrates a certain level of comfort and confidence, which means the team is getting used to playing together on the ice and finally beginning to gel after bringing in so many fresh faces.

Much like teams Ron Wilson has previously coached, the Leafs have begun playing with a much stronger forecheck. It is well known that a forceful forecheck will upset the timing of the opposing team and create turnovers. The good news is that over the course of the five game road trip, the Toronto players seemed to be buying into Ron Wilsons forechecking system. This is one of the reasons Toronto has managed to lessen their goal differential and be more competitive in the stretch ending October.

“We turned the puck over in the second period probably four or five times in neutral ice, and those are things you cannot do in a 2-1 hockey game.” Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said after playing Toronto on October 26th.

With the lack of offensive weapons within the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup a strong forecheck is necessary for Toronto to create chances, and that’s exactly what they did against Anaheim to help them in their 6 – 3 victory. This is another aspect of Toronto’s game that has vastly improved over the past five games. Should it continue to improve, the Leafs will no doubt find themselves in the hunt for each game, if not leading.

Toronto’s defensive and offensive zone play also has greatly improved during their five games away from home. The two things they are doing well at both ends of the ice are very similar in theory, crashing the net.

The most likely reason for Toronto’s improvement over the last five games has to be their defensive zone play. For the first time this season Toronto’s forwards have started to play defense. It has not been uncharacteristic for the Leafs to have all five players providing low puck side pressure inside their own zone. This has allowed the Leafs to collapse into the slot and around the net to clear rebounds after a shot. A goaltender can always be counted on to make the initial save, then it’s up to the defence to clear the puck and allow the goalie to reset. With the Leafs executing this style of defence, they have been able to go from a -18 goal differential over their first seven games, to a -1 in their last five.

At the other end of the ice, Toronto has started getting more traffic in front of opposing goaltenders and crashing the net with more authority. This method seems to be working as they have scored 16 goals while on their five game road trip versus a lackluster 14 goals in their first seven outings.

“We played a solid game but sometimes it’s not enough,” said Kaberle, after the 3 – 2 overtime loss to Buffalo on October 30th. “We did a good job going to the net in the third. The first few games in the season we were just standing around and waiting for good plays and empty nets that weren’t there.” (Yahoo! Sports Canada, Oct. 30th, 2009)

Toronto has played their best hockey of the season while away on this road trip and Leaf fans can definitely begin looking on the brighter side of things.

With the recent return of Jonas Gustavsson and Phil Kessel joining the lineup tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 3rd), things are definitely looking up for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gustavsson has posted a respectable 90.1 SV% and a 2.96 GAA over his last four starts, and Kessel could provide the extra offense that could have pushed a couple of Toronto’s four overtime losses into the wins column.

After grabbing five points in their last five games and the Toronto Maple Leafs style of play seemingly coming together, it’s fair to say the ship is finally getting on course. As long as they continue to play a technically sound game using a strong forecheck and their crash the net style at both ends of the ice, Toronto should be able to begin the climb out of the basement and into the mix of mediocrity.

— Greg Ryan Sharp

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