Auston Matthews shakes Mark Pysyk's hand (Dave Sandford, Getty Images)
The Leafs continued their dreadful recent slump with a 5-2 loss to their nemesis, the Buffalo Sabres, in a clash at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
Here are my 5 takeaways as the Leafs flop at another outdoor game, marking their fourth loss of their last six games.
1. Mrazek Undoes all his Good Work in Third Period
I'm getting really tired of mentioning the Leafs' goaltending woes in every single edition of the takeaways.
It was looking like a bounce-back game for Petr Mrazek. The team in front of him was poor, so he had to be alert and he made some big saves. The goals that he conceded in the second period were both tough to prevent, so I won't call him out. They were both unlucky bounces that created high danger scoring chances against. However, it all unraveled in the third.
Buffalo's third goal was atrocious, as Mrazek left way too much space beside his post that Vinnie Hinostroza took advantage of by ripping a shot off the Czech's body from a difficult angle. The fourth was also quite soft, as the puck slipped through Mrazek's grasp without too much resistance. The puck squeaked through him way too easily.
In Mrazek's defense, the blueline really was a liability today. They were slow and let Buffalo control too much of the play. Either way, you really need a save on both of the third period goals.
The Leafs have now surrendered at least 4 goals in 6 consecutive games, their worst stretch defensively in over 15 years. They've allowed 4 goals or more in 10 of their last 12. The Leafs' offense has been generational at times this season, but it's almost impossible to consistently bail out your team when the goalies are allowing over 4 goals.
We have reached the point where the Leafs' forwards have to score at least 5 goals for them to win the game. That's an unacceptably high standard to hold them to and it's because of the wretched crease situation.
2. Leafs Miss Out on Massive Opportunity
The last three weeks were seen as a soft spot on the Leafs calendar. 6 straight games against teams outside of the playoff pictures should have been seen as the perfect time to make a legitimate push for the division title. However, the Leafs had their momentum halted and with a much tougher schedule now, a wild-card spot could be the Leafs' destiny.
A Leafs win today would have put them ahead of Tampa Bay in the standings and put them in position for home-ice advantage come playoff time. Instead, they are now just two points ahead of the Boston Bruins. If the Bruins keep up their relentless play of the last few weeks, the Leafs could be doomed to fourth in the division.
This should have been a guaranteed 10 points in the standings. Maybe the Leafs would slip up against one of their opponents, but this should have been a chance for them to make a legitimate run to the top of the division. Instead, Florida are further away than ever and Boston are right on the Leafs' tails.
Toronto's tendency to play down to lesser opponents has doomed them to a match-up against either Florida or Carolina in the first round. With the tentative weaknesses of this Leafs roster as well as the overwhelming dominance of those two teams, it's hard to see the outcome of this year's postseason being anything more than a first-round exit.
3. Time to Drop Simmonds?
Look, I know that Wayne Simmonds just celebrated his 1000th and he's been a big part of this team off the ice, but it's getting harder and harder to justify keeping him in the lineup. In 28 games in 2022, Simmonds has 0 goals and 4 assists for 4 points. Even his physical play has fallen off and he isn't hitting players like he used to. He's still important as a protector of the stars, but as we saw tonight, the stars can handle themselves.
I truly think that in the ideal Leafs' forward group, Simmonds is an extra forward. He simply hasn't warranted a roster spot with his play on the ice this season. He needs Alex Kerfoot as his center to have any sort of impact on a game, but that isn't a sustainable method of success, because Sheldon Keefe prefers to have Kerfoot on the second line.
I don't suggest trading him or waiving him. I simply think that Simmonds is probably better off as a healthy scratch.
4. Suspension Incoming for Matthews?
As the tensions arose late in today's game, the game got scrappy. This was evidenced by a late scrap that earned both Michael Bunting and Dylan Cozens game misconducts. It got rough towards the end, but the intensity all sparked from a net-front battle between star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Hart Trophy favourite Auston Matthews.
It was a typical battle between two players that don't always battle. However, it ended in an ugly way after Auston Matthews cross-checked Dahlin right in the face with a frustrated shove. It could warrant a look by the NHL Department of Player Safety. The Department of Player Safety rarely punishes the league's biggest stars for such a trivial infringement of the rules.
I don't think we will see anything come out of this, but a one-game suspension could hurt the team, as they are clearly lost without him.
5. Peyton Krebs has a Bright Future
It hasn't been an incredible season for Peyton Krebs. He's proven himself capable, but unlike Alex Tuch, he hasn't broken out in a big way. Nevertheless, I've been very impressed with him this season. His career hadn't gotten off to a bright start, but he has found a way to make himself a valuable NHL player.
He had a great game today, notching two goals. He's a very strong skater and he can perform on both sides of the puck. I really like Krebs as a player and if he can string the performances that he's had lately, he really could become a player with a bright future.
Buffalo has always had a bad reputation with developing players. Krebs, however, looks to be an exception.
ALL STATS COURTESY OF MONEYPUCK AND NATURAL STAT TRICK
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