Maple Leafs come up small in loss to Senators, blow two-goal lead

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We’d really feel obliged off the highest right here to make a joke about turkey and stuffing within the Maple Leafs’ newest loss in opposition to a lesser crew.

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A few nights after they celebrated Christmas, nonetheless, there wasn’t something humorous a few 4-2 Toronto fall in opposition to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night time at Scotiabank Enviornment.

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You’d suppose it might not be an excessive amount of to ask for the Leafs to hold momentum from a win in Columbus instantly earlier than the three-day Christmas break, however you’ll be fallacious.

A 2-0 Leafs lead in opposition to the worst crew within the Jap Convention, one which already has fired its normal supervisor and coach, didn’t rise up within the newest Battle of Ontario.

Simply as unhealthy: After the Senators tied the sport within the second interval, the groups entered the third 2-2. And it was the Sens, who have been 16 factors behind the Leafs within the standings when the sport began, who discovered an additional gear within the remaining 20 minutes to tug away.

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“Ottawa received higher and tougher as the sport went on and we didn’t reply to that,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “It’s simply a number of the particulars of our recreation. There are issues that we want to do a complete lot higher on every of the objectives that we gave up.”

The Leafs failed to attain on some good possibilities within the early phases, and Senators goalie Joonas Korpisalo was dialled in as the sport progressed. 

Ottawa has gained 4 of its 12 highway video games in 2023-24. Two of these victories have are available Toronto.

There haven’t been many objectives of the ugly selection in opposition to Martin Jones throughout his transient tenure with the Leafs. That modified within the third interval.

Sens ahead Drake Batherson managed the puck deep within the offensive zone and from behind the the aim line, fired it towards the web. The puck hit the again of Jones and fell over the road, offering Ottawa with a 3-2 lead at 3:44.

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“He simply rotated and wired a shot from the nook and it simply hit me within the excellent spot,” Jones mentioned with a shrug.

It was the second Batherson aim at even-strength on Wednesday that the Leafs pair of Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie watched from the ice. Rielly was on the ice for all 4 objectives in opposition to. 

William Nylander prolonged his level streak to 12 video games with an help and has no less than one level in 29 of the Leafs’ 32 video games. To make certain, we’re not searching for a silver lining in a loss to a crew as poor because the Senators, as a result of there are none. Simply stating a few Nylander-related info.

Brady Tkachuk scored into an empty Leafs web with 2 1/2 minutes remaining. 

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SECONDARY PROBLEMS

After going up 2-0 within the first interval on objectives by Matthew Knies and Tyler Bertuzzi, the Leafs fizzled within the second. 

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With Ottawa scoring twice, the Leafs have allowed a complete of 38 objectives within the center interval, essentially the most they’ve given up in any interval. 

And for the fifth time in 2023-24, the Leafs allowed a shorthanded aim. The most recent got here at 10:17 of the second when Parker Kelly took a go from Claude Giroux on a 2-on-1 and scored on Jones’ glove aspect. 

Simply over 4 minutes later, Ottawa drew equal with Toronto when Batherson buried a Tim Stutzle rebound.

Toronto was 0-for-3 on the ability play.

“No query, our energy play didn’t do our job and gave them life they usually capitalized on their alternatives after that,” captain John Tavares mentioned. “As soon as we allow them to again in, the sport was up for grabs. A troublesome one to swallow once we had begin like we did.”

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The 2 objectives by the guests ruined begin by Toronto, which spent many of the five-on-five play within the first interval within the offensive zone. However as we’ve seen earlier than, the Leafs didn’t put up a lot resistance as a worse crew labored its manner again into the sport.

It’s a behavior, if we will seek advice from it as such, that Keefe has to proceed to attempt to erase from the Leafs’ recreation. Then once more, it shouldn’t nonetheless be taking place 30-some video games into the season with the brand new 12 months approaching. 

The second interval is a priority. The Leafs owned opponents within the second in 2022-23, a trait that has not continued.

“Definitely conscious of it,” Keefe mentioned. “When issues don’t go nicely for us, we don’t transfer the puck effectively from our defence to our forwards on breakouts, regroups. In the event you don’t do these issues nicely, the interval just isn’t going to go nicely. That’s been a difficulty for us the whole season.”

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Jones confronted 14 photographs within the second after he needed to flip away simply six within the first. Auston Matthews had been credited with the Leafs’ first aim till replays confirmed that his shot went in off the skate of Knies. 

Bertuzzi, whose manufacturing doesn’t correctly match the one-year, $5.5 million US contract he signed with the Leafs in free company, scored his sixth and first in 13 video games. The man with the lengthy hair and no tape on his stick has to discover a approach to begin contributing extra on the scoresheet. We’ll see if his comparatively uncommon aim is the beginning of one thing. 

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HELP ON THE WAY

Mark Giordano has introduced a stabilizing component when he has been within the lineup, and it’s trying like he will probably be obtainable to supply that once more quickly. 

The 40-year-old defenceman has missed the previous 12 video games with a damaged finger, an damage he suffered on Nov. 28 in opposition to the Florida Panthers.

Giordano was a full participant within the morning skate.

“He’s actual shut,” Keefe mentioned. “We’ll get him a full observe day with the group (on Thursday) and decide from there.”

Whereas the considering may very well be that one in every of Simon Benoit or William Lagesson will come out of the lineup, Giordano was paired with Conor Timmins on the skate. It may very well be that the 2 are paired once more as soon as Giordano returns, maybe as early as Friday night time in Columbus in opposition to the Blue Jackets.

Benoit and Lagesson have stuffed in properly with accidents to Giordano, John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren, however neither was signed to play usually. Whereas Lagesson has been bodily and fought Ridly Greig on Wednesday, getting Giordano again could be a lift.

Keefe had no updates on goalie Joseph Woll (excessive ankle sprain) and winger Ryan Reaves (decrease physique) aside from to say neither is near returning.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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