Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Ullmark, Stolarz, Nylander & Knies – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators at home – their fourth straight loss at home in Ottawa. Linus Ullmark made 27 saves, earning his first shutout in a Senators uniform.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Marner Adjusts Well to Berube System

Ottawa controlled the game from the first minute when they got the advantage in Toronto to score. Defensive letdowns plagued the Maple Leafs all night. Josh Norris opened the scoring after 41 seconds, followed by goals from Tim Stutzle and Michael Amadio in the second half. The Senators’ relentless forechecking and speed left the Maple Leafs with few scoring opportunities.

Aside from the points, Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz faced 38 shots and was a reliable performer for the Maple Leafs. Without stars Auston Matthews and (probably) Max Pacioretty, Toronto didn’t establish any offensive zone time and repeatedly fell victim to Ottawa’s brutal attack.

First thing: Anthony Stolarz was the Maple Leafs’ MVP

Despite scoring three goals, Stlarz was the bright spot in a poor performance. He made several key saves, especially on Ottawa’s power play, to keep Toronto within reach. Stolarz’s 35-save effort prevented a potential blowout, as Toronto’s defense allowed plenty of high-quality scoring opportunities.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Radical Return Strategy May Irk Auston Matthews

Thing Two: William Nylander Has Created Offensive Turnovers Without Success

William Nylander had a promising season, creating offensive opportunities in rare moments for Toronto in the Ottawa area. However, he seemed out of rhythm, perhaps due to missing practice earlier in the week. Despite his efforts, Nylander couldn’t convert his chances or inspire his team to come back.

Point Three: Matthew Knies Continues His Strong Physical Game

Matthew Knies showed grit and played a strong physical game, especially when battling in front of the net. However, he received limited support from his teammates, and his strength could not compensate for the team’s tenacity and ability to create an offense.

What’s Wrong With Maple Leaves?

From the Maple Leafs perspective, the game was characterized by a lack of urgency. Although it might have seemed that the group had removed the monkey after last week, the same monkey was seen again last night. Head coach Craig Berube has addressed the issue on the bench but to no avail.

Related: Maple Leafs Should Think Twice About Trading Conor Timmins

Ottawa repeatedly outworked Toronto, especially in puck battles and transition plays. The result? The senators are not in a hurry. Each of their goals was the result of a costly turnover or a missed defensive assignment, and Toronto’s inability to control possession made it nearly impossible to create a sustained offense.

Toronto’s power play, recently one of its strong points, was also unsuccessful. Despite the opportunities, the Maple Leafs missed a few quality shooting opportunities. Instead, the team chose to pass more. While Ullmark was good, the Blue and White posed little threat in his shutout.

This lack of precision hampered Toronto’s best chance to get back into the game. In addition, the top players of the Maple Leafs struggled to maintain the tempo of the offensive zone. Their over-reliance on passing stopped any potential momentum.

Essential Gameplay

The defining moment of the game came just 41 seconds into the first half when a sloppy conversion led to Ottawa’s first goal on a 4-on-2 rush. Poor decision making by the Maple Leafs and poor defensive play allowed Norris to beat Stolarz with a well-placed shot. A quick score sets the tone for the rest of the game.

This early goal put Toronto on the back foot from the start as the Senators continued to pile on the pressure, building a lead that Toronto never really threatened.

What’s Next for Maple Leaves?

Toronto heads to Washington to face the Capitals for the second half of the series. With a 10-4-0 record, Washington poses a serious challenge, especially if the same Toronto team shows up on Wednesday. Fans can only hope that last night’s game was a one-off.

Related: Remembering Maple Leafs Tough Guy Jim Dorey

The Maple Leafs’ continued struggle with defensive consistency and creating five-on-five offense, evident against the Senators, could mean another loss tonight. The team must quickly reorganize to avoid another slip into the standoff. Matthews’ injury has already hurt Toronto’s depth, so secondary scoring and an improved team defense will be important for Washington.

With 20% of the season already over, Toronto’s .500 record belongs to a team with playoff aspirations. Berube’s postgame comments highlighted the need for better five-on-five play and a more precise approach to the power play. If the Maple Leafs can’t adjust, their season could be in danger of slipping out of control.