The Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive play has improved so far, but some suggest they're playing boring hockey. William Nylander and Bobby McMann [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwMDUzMzc3OTQwMjY4NDEw/usatsi_24508147_168400847_lowres.jpg] William Nylander and Bobby McMann Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube found a clicking combination with Bobby McMann, Max Domi and William Nylander on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs continued their strong start to the season by beating the Los Angeles Kings 5-2 Wednesday [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/auston-matthews-scores-first-goal-as-captain-six-game-notes-from-the-maple-leafs-win-over-the-kings]. While it was encouraging for Leafs fans to see superstar center Auston Matthews put up his first goal of the season, the Buds players who really stood out were on the team’s second line [https://thehockeynews.com/lineups/atlantic/toronto-maple-leafs-projected-lineup-and-depth-chart]. Despite Domi logging only 13:12 of ice time, McMann only logging 14:58 and Nylander logging 17:33, the line generated three goals in the win. The line – whose genesis began Saturday when Domi set up Nylander Saturday for his first goal of the season [https://www.nhl.com/video/pit-tor-nylander-scores-goal-against-joel-blomqvist-6363189201112] – was creative, crafty and dangerous against the Kings. As a result, the second line eased the pressure on Matthews to break his points drought. It’s hard to pick one player from that second line as the player responsible for its success. Nylander is one of the best skaters in the league, opening up time and space in the offensive zone while having enough energy to be a responsible defender. Domi has been solid regardless of who he’s been on a line with – as he showed last season when he had great chemistry with Matthews in particular. McMann’s two-goal performance Wednesday gave him three goals in three games this season. McMann was a healthy scratch in Game 1 against Montreal, but his current success means he’s going to stick in the lineup for the foreseeable future. If Toronto has any weaknesses right now, it’s probably on their fourth line of Steven Lorentz, center David Kampf and right winger Ryan Reaves. Kampf is still looking for his first goal of the season, while Reaves is looking for his first point. But even then, Lorentz has been terrific in limited minutes, and the line has outchanced its opponents when on the ice, according to moneypuck.com [https://moneypuck.com/lines.htm]. It just hasn't gotten a goal, and it's conceded two goals. There’s so much to like about the Leafs at the moment that the biggest issue is when veteran left winger Max Pacioretty – a healthy scratch against the Kings – will get back in the lineup and who will come out. He's a left winger, but Lorentz could move to center if Kampf exits the lineup, or Pacioretty could try the right wing and replace Reaves. If that’s the most pressing “problem” you have, you’re doing a lot of things right. Coach Craig Berube’s initial time with Toronto has been a success, and no small part of it is because of the way the Leafs’ lines have adapted and gelled to this point. Toronto’s next game comes Saturday at home against the New York Rangers, and that could well be their biggest test of the season so far. But with the Leafs’ defense looking as good as it’s been in the “Core Four” era [https://thehockeynews.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-playing-boring-hockey-not-a-problem], and with the forward lines looking like Berube should do anything but break them up anytime soon, the Buds can settle in and focus on the task at hand. And if Nylander, Domi, and McMann continue to look particularly sharp, the Leafs can hurt their opponent in many ways. Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
