There used to be a time underneath Craig Berube the place back-to-back video games and accidents did not outcome within the 6-3 loss Toronto grew to become in Wednesday.
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A memorable function for John Tavares got here on a a night time the Maple Leafs wish to put out of your mind.
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Tavares’s five hundredth used to be overshadowed via the membership’s worst lack of the yr, a 6-3 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a ultimate outcome that flattered Toronto as Tavares and Nick Robertson scored with the sport out of succeed in and lengthy after the Jackets had overwhelmed Cayden Primeau and a lax Leafs’ defensive play 5 occasions at the first 13 of 24 photographs.
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Our takeaways from a tricky recreation at National Enviornment:
NO TRAVEL EXCUSES
Each golf equipment received and travelled to Ohio the night time prior to, which is rarely a sapping west coast adventure. So, why did the Leafs glance so flat?
Transition targets in opposition to had been a sore spot all yr and Cole Sillinger’s simple rush after a Leafs breakout used to be thwarted brought about trainer Craig Berube to make use of an early day out to bark on the bench. The problems most effective were given worse when 3 Columbus defencemen were given in at the scoring birthday party thru odd-man rushes, regardless that one got here with Steven Lorentz in a heap on the different finish after he slammed head-first into the forums and play used to be now not whistled lifeless with the Jackets in ownership.
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Toronto’s defencemen have been tagged for 11 of 23 groups giveaways, six via the in most cases unswerving Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 3 via widespread wrongdoer Morgan Rielly.
The Leafs additionally fell to a file of 0-3 at the highway thus far this yr, shedding to Detroit, Buffalo and Columbus, giving up a complete of 17 targets.
HURTING TUNE
To an inventory that comes with William Nylander (decrease frame), Calle Jarnkrok (decrease frame), Chris Tanev (higher frame) and Scott Laughton (foot), there could be extra time at the sidelines for winger Lorentz.
Already rattled via a suspected head damage that price him 3 video games previous this month, Lorentz snapped his stick in frustration as soon as he made it to Toronto’s bench. He didn’t go back for the 3rd length and Berube mentioned he’d be re-evaluated on Thursday, which is a break day following the back-to-back.
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Extra lineup information might be identified Friday after observe previous to assembly the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s a recreation Laughton and Tanev need to be again in after prolonged time away, whilst Berube indicated sitting Nylander for the second one time in 3 video games used to be extra precautionary than anything else.
A minimum of the absentees gave the trainer a possibility to check out some new traces in small pattern sizes, together with Robertson and Matias Maccelli in top profile roles and via the top of the night time, rewarding Sammy Blais via striking him with Auston Matthews after a function and help in his Toronto debut, taking Nylander’s spot at the roster.
Just right to look Blais get that after just about a month of exhausting practices with none recreation motion. Berube mentioned his former Cup-winning St. Louis Blue nonetheless had some juice and he used to be unquestionably full of life and artistic in scoring his first NHL function since 2023-24.
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NET LOSSES
Primeau benefited from 11 Toronto targets in his first two wins, however this used to be his first task to thieve a highway level or two from his tuned-out teammates. As soon as Sillinger drove the web and fooled him with a posh deke, the remainder of the Jackets smelled blood.
A more potent recreation from waiver pick-up Primeau would’ve taken the narrative clear of when Joseph Woll will rejoin complete observe and most probably get in some conditioning time with the Toronto Marlies.
THE 500 CLUB
Tavares completed a 2-on-1 from Matthew Knies, however even supposing the Leafs have been down 5 on the time and he’d overlooked a few possibilities when the rating used to be nearer, it used to be every other instance that the 35-year-old by no means quits.
Attending to 500 right away tied him with Lanny McDonald for forty eighth in NHL historical past and there’s no explanation why Tavares received’t get every other 45 via subsequent yr to catch Maurice Richard, who used to be the primary NHLer with 500 and has the league function trophy named for him.
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