This loss dropped their record to 27-27-11, and with the losses piling up, it’s obvious that the pressure is high and the games are fewer. Attack has been their strong point with 3.11 goals per game. However, it won’t help them win unless their defense holds up, allowing 3.48 goals on average. The team often shows flashes of strong play, but struggles to maintain momentum for sixty minutes.
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William Nylander remains the team’s leading point producer with 60 points. Speaking to the media after the loss to the Canadiens, he admitted that the team only shows brief moments of good hockey during games.
“I think it’s a lot of losses in a row now,” Nylander said. “And I mean, I think in parts of all the games we’ve been playing, we’ve been playing bits and pieces of good hockey. And I mean, that’s not how we want to play when we’re playing a full game of good hockey. So, until we trend closer to that, I think it’ll be a positive.”
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens defensemen Mike Matheson (8) and Noah Dobson (53) during the third period at the Bell Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Matthews has also contributed 26 goals for the team despite a difficult stretch since his 69-goal season. However, individual performances have not translated into stable results for the Maple Leafs.
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Those involved understand that improvements must come quickly to stop the losing streak. But head coach Craig Berube explained that winning becomes difficult when the team cannot maintain a strong game.
“It’s hard to say. But it’s hard to win in this league if you don’t,” Berube said, referring to Nylander’s comment about the 60 minutes of play. “You don’t have to dominate a period, but you have to be in the game. You have to create and you have to defend…
“When that happens, we have to keep the puck out of our net as much as possible. Hopefully we find our groove scoring. But we need more guys to step up and contribute than there are right now.”
Toronto continues to face strong pressure in its market due to the long championship drought. Expectations remain high as fans await the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 1967.
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