The Toronto Maple Leafs left no April Fools’ jokes for fans to embrace, although things got close to a multi-goal collapse. This match against the Florida Panthers was highly anticipated, given the history between the two clubs and the likelihood of a first-round playoff series in a few weeks.
The Leafs were in control of the first two periods, getting goals from three of their four forward lines. Nick Robertson and Auston Matthews secured the 2-0 lead after the opening period. Brandon Montour cut the Panthers’ deficit in half with his seventh 47 seconds into the middle frame, but Tyler Bertuzzi, David Kämpf and Matthew Knies brought the game to an almost unreachable height with goals of their own.
Florida started the third with a mission that was close to coming true. Vladimir Tarasenko was the star of the final 20 minutes as his 22nd goal was the first of three points. Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett continued the momentum, and before we knew it, there was 1:50 left on the clock. Matthews fought for and secured the empty net goal, making it a 6-4 decision for the Leafs.
On to the observations.
Three stars
Auston Matthews
Sixty goals was not enough for Matthews who added two to establish a new career high. There are only eight more games left in this season.
AUSTON MATTHEWS ????
NEW CAREER HIGH! 61 GOALS! pic.twitter.com/2yAkv0FkSP
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 1, 2024
Nick Robertson
The reward of the third line is their skill and Robertson was at the forefront of it scoring in back-to-back games to bring his total to 12 goals.
NICK ROBERTSON ????
THE KIDS STRIKE FIRST! pic.twitter.com/zAHblv29fC
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 1, 2024
The third period is a massive blemish on Samsonov’s great game. The Panthers came out flying to start, and their first chance of the night was a deflection shot through traffic. Samsonov weathered the storm and kept Florida off the scoreboard for as long as he could. His point-blank rebound save on Anton Lundell is one thing to focus on, but pulling that puck off the goal line in the first was a turning point.
SAMMY!
Unbelievable! pic.twitter.com/BkXmONigv4
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 1, 2024
The Kid Line
The Robertson-Pontus Holmberg-Knies line was the fastest out there. That and their offensive output makes it a safe bet for the Leafs’ coaching staff. The plays they make in transition are game-changing, especially when they’re playing heavily along the boards.
Robertson gets the edge on Dmitry Kulikov and Sergei Bobrovsky with his speed, but it starts with a won puck battle between him and Holmberg and a good defensive stick to intercept the pass. Knies skates by and through four Panthers players to get to the slot and receive the wraparound pass from Holmberg, but it starts with Robertson straight-up stopping after Tarasenko tried to bank the puck off the boards to Kulikov and challenging him. If Robertson circles and is more passive, he’s not there to steal the puck and get it to Holmberg.
The Kid Line will probably end once the Leafs get healthier, but they’ve shown what they can do in games like these.
Setting the tone
The Leafs finished Monday’s game with 41 hits. Ryan Reaves and Connor Dewar combined for 13 hits, with Reaves’ seven leading the way. Not only did he bring raw physicality, but his forechecking resulted in offensive opportunities for his line and follow-up shifts.
Penalty killing
There weren’t any goals scored on the power play between seven opportunities. The penalty kill was indicative of the team’s overall play in the opening 40 minutes. The Panthers struggled with maintaining pressure in the offensive zone, and the Leafs were quick on their clears. Even when their skilled players found space, the penalty killers were in the right spot to shut those moments down before anything could come of it. Of course, they had Samsonov making the stops whenever Florida got a look.
Samsonov’s goal line save was a highlight of the penalty kill, and Holmberg’s block on an open Matthew Tkachuk came while the Leafs were short-handed. It’s also good to see Kämpf and Dewar becoming a consistent and useful duo, while Holmberg and Bobby McMann’s skating is another dangerous factor.
clutch block from Holmberg as Tkachuk was alone there pic.twitter.com/z1T5G3w85w
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 1, 2024
Fallen third
The Panthers are going to come back. They’ve always been a team that can score and have improved significantly in their own end. However, their means of queuing the comeback was a direct result of the Leafs holding back on what made them successful in the first two periods. It goes beyond score effects. The Leafs won fewer puck battles and got looser in their own end and the Panthers took advantage of some favourable matchups. Reinhart’s goal is a perfect example of what the Leafs were doing wrong in the third.
Sam Reinhart gets another one for the Panthers pic.twitter.com/m1X8WvZ9q8
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 2, 2024
Game score
Final grade: B+
This will be a bit of a continuation of that final observation. There’s a difference between knowing a push is coming and being ready to handle it when it does. The Leafs were ready in the first two periods but weren’t in the third. Their most dangerous scoring chance in the third was from Max Domi, with nearly five minutes left in regulation. In this game, the Leafs sent a message to a potential playoff opponent. The Florida Panthers know how the Leafs can perform and execute up and down the lineup. They know they’re not a team to be pushed around and that they can start scrums as easily as they can finish them. Unfortunately, they also got another reminder that no Leafs lead is completely safe.
Things happen, and the Leafs handled the in-game moments well at first. Montour’s goal could have been a problem if the top line hadn’t responded and scored immediately. But there are still times when the team holds on instead of continuing to push back.
What’s next for the Leafs?
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in town Wednesday (7 p.m. EST) for what makes it a significant matchup standings-wise.
(Photo: Dan Hamilton / USA Today)
