Game 4: Leafs Drop 4-2 Stinker vs. Coyotes

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a tough one, losing 4-2 to the Arizona Coyotes on home ice. This loss won’t sit well with anybody in the Maple Leafs organization, including the players. A team with its eyes set on the postseason and hopeful for a Stanley Cup run dropped an absolute stinker to a team in a complete rebuild. This was one of those games where Leafs’ fans were left with an awful taste, a gut-punching feeling, especially when it was on home ice. The Arizona Coyotes were without star forward Nick Schmaltz and defenseman Conor Timmins to top it off for this one. As bad of a result as this may be for the blue and white, it’s only fair to mention the solid play from the Arizona Coyotes. A rebuilding squad that doesn’t match up nearly close on paper with this Leafs team was the more determined group and deserved the full two points.  

In the opening period, the Maple Leafs started strong. The blue and white were coming in waves at Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka, but he had an answer. There wasn’t much going on in the opening frame; some nice plays were nearly converted but ultimately just missed by the Maple Leafs. However, things went south fast after looking like the better side for most of the period. An interference call on Maple Leafs forward Calle Järnkrok set up ex-Maple Leaf Nick Ritchie’s power-play goal with just over twenty seconds remaining in the first period. A callous way to go into the first intermission after missing some clear chances. 

Fans at Scotiabank Arena were beginning to get fed up. Coming into the second period, you would have expected the Maple Leafs to come out firing. However, it was almost the exact opposite. A plodding start to the middle frame started to chip away at the clock. It got even worse near the middle of the second period when Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer got his first goal of the season. The blue and white couldn’t get much going in the second frame, even on the power-play opportunity, thanks to a Josh Brown cross-checking penalty. After the second period ended, the Maple Leafs were outshot 9-8, Fans began to boo, and this game wasn’t looking good for the Maple Leafs. 

With one last fresh slate of hockey remaining to be played, the Maple Leafs had no push from the start. A disappointing game for Toronto, but the game changed rapidly thanks to Maple Leafs forward William Nylander. The twenty-six-year-old forward scored his third goal of the season on the power play assisted by John Tavares and Morgan Rielly. Less than one minute later, Maple Leafs’ star Mitch Marner tied the game off a beautiful goal, capitalizing on a turnover by Arizona defenseman Troy Stetcher. Once the game was all tied up after a groggy Maple Leafs’ performance, the game was fairly back and forth. A severe penalty from Leafs forward Calle Järnkrok was all Arizona needed to score the eventual game-winner. Arizona defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere unleashed a one-timer from the left hashmark that went right through Maple Leafs’ goaltender Erik Kallgren. After the Coyotes took a one-goal lead late, it appeared as if the Maple Leafs found the equalizer. A goal from Alexander Kerfoot had Scotiabank Arena rocking until it was announced the goal was under review. A deep replay on a hand pass from defenseman Morgan Rielly pulled back Kefoot’s goal, and we went back to 3-2. Once the puck was dropped and the Leafs executed their desperate push, an empty-net goal from Lawson Crouse sealed the deal. The Arizona Coyotes walked into Scotiabank Arena as heavy underdogs and walked away with the full two points in regulation.

This was a sloppy performance from mostly everyone in the Maple Leafs lineup, and the coaching staff isn’t excused. Seeing these results repeatedly vs. lesser opponents cannot happen if you’re a team focused on winning it all. Patience is growing thin internally and with the fanbase, and it’s only sooner or later until a significant move is made. Unless the team can sort out all of these issues relatively quickly before it’s too late, then expect something. The blue and white will return to action Thursday against the 3-0-0 Dallas Stars. 

Thanks for reading! For more hockey content, follow my Twitter at @JAns8lmo.

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