<p>The first forty minutes of the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> game against the Los Angeles Kings produced some of the most unremarkable hockey seen in a long time. It&#8217;s not that they didn&#8217;t have their looks. It&#8217;s not that the Kings didn&#8217;t have theirs. The Brandon Carlo-Jeff Malott fight was entertaining but not enough that the narrative wasn&#8217;t about the lack of intensity from the Leafs in the spring.</p>
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<p>The third period shifted some of that narrative, thanks to an Auston Matthews shorthanded goal after being found not guilty of a phantom high stick, and John Tavares with the finisher on a four on three powerplay to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead. Tavares then added an empty netter, which moved him into 50th on the all-time goal scoring list, to end the game 3-1 for the Leafs.</p>
<p>The decision to use Matthews and Marner as penalty killers has been a heavily debated one this season and with the arrival of Scott Laughton meant to provide the Leafs&#8217; stars with rest during the penalty kill, using Matthews and Mitch Marner, especially together was a bold choice that clearly paid off. And one that makes sense against the Kings, which doesn&#8217;t have much speed on the powerplay. Creating an odd man rush and the then being able to pin offensively minded players in their own zone while they were supposed to be enjoying the advantage is one that won&#8217;t work against every opponent but makes sense against the Kings. I&#8217;m not sure if it is a lock against the Lightning or Panthers, but is one worth looking at against the Senators, and certainly has situational merit like if you are down by one heading into the third.</p>
<p>As for the Tavares goal, it was the Leafs powerplay working the way it should. The skill of players like Marner and Morgan Rielly when it comes to moving the puck combined with Matthews&#8217; ability to create chaos even when the puck doesn&#8217;t go in, along with Tavares&#8217; strength in front of the net is what the Leafs will need to keep clicking over the next couple of months.</p>
<p>In a game where the Leafs were held scoreless 5v5 and throughout the first two periods there are obviously some concerns that stick out. Simon Benoit is increasingly looking like a playoff loose end, and whether it is Toronto finding a way to lean more heavily on their top five defencemen or whether it is time to try Oliver Ekman-Larsson with another partner will be a decision that Craig Berube will have to make before the playoffs start.</p>
<p>The fact that Max Domi is still making questionable decisions and got caught in a panic against Anze Kopitar is another argument in the case for heavily sheltering the Leafs forward.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, a win is a win and with the Maple Leafs at it again tomorrow night against the Ducks there is a good opportunity to take four points out of a back-to-back, something they need since they only have a one point lead over the Panthers for first in the Atlantic, and Florida has a game at hand.</p>
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The first forty minutes of the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> game against the Los Angeles Kings produced some of the most unremarkable hockey seen in a long time. It's not that they didn't have their looks. It's not that the Kings didn't have theirs. The Brandon Carlo-Jeff Malott fight was entertaining but not enough that the narrative wasn't about the lack of intensity from the Leafs in the spring.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2106" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="324"></div>
The third period shifted some of that narrative, thanks to an Auston Matthews shorthanded goal after being found not guilty of a phantom high stick, and John Tavares with the finisher on a four on three powerplay to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead. Tavares then added an empty netter, which moved him into 50th on the all-time goal scoring list, to end the game 3-1 for the Leafs.

The decision to use Matthews and Marner as penalty killers has been a heavily debated one this season and with the arrival of Scott Laughton meant to provide the Leafs' stars with rest during the penalty kill, using Matthews and Mitch Marner, especially together was a bold choice that clearly paid off. And one that makes sense against the Kings, which doesn't have much speed on the powerplay. Creating an odd man rush and the then being able to pin offensively minded players in their own zone while they were supposed to be enjoying the advantage is one that won't work against every opponent but makes sense against the Kings. I'm not sure if it is a lock against the Lightning or Panthers, but is one worth looking at against the Senators, and certainly has situational merit like if you are down by one heading into the third.

As for the Tavares goal, it was the Leafs powerplay working the way it should. The skill of players like Marner and Morgan Rielly when it comes to moving the puck combined with Matthews' ability to create chaos even when the puck doesn't go in, along with Tavares' strength in front of the net is what the Leafs will need to keep clicking over the next couple of months.

In a game where the Leafs were held scoreless 5v5 and throughout the first two periods there are obviously some concerns that stick out. Simon Benoit is increasingly looking like a playoff loose end, and whether it is Toronto finding a way to lean more heavily on their top five defencemen or whether it is time to try Oliver Ekman-Larsson with another partner will be a decision that Craig Berube will have to make before the playoffs start.

The fact that Max Domi is still making questionable decisions and got caught in a panic against Anze Kopitar is another argument in the case for heavily sheltering the Leafs forward.

At the end of the day, a win is a win and with the Maple Leafs at it again tomorrow night against the Ducks there is a good opportunity to take four points out of a back-to-back, something they need since they only have a one point lead over the Panthers for first in the Atlantic, and Florida has a game at hand.
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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