The Maple Leafs missed the net 19 times in the 4-2 loss to Detroit on Saturday.
The Maple Leafs missed the net 19 times in the 4-2 loss to Detroit on Saturday.
In the first game of a back-to-back, the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a close contest against the Detroit Red Wings, 4-2, snapping their two-game winning streak. Though the game was tight on the scoreboard, Toronto struggled to convert opportunities into tangible results, missing the net 19 times on Saturday.
The Leafs, known for generating high shot totals, managed only 25 shots on goal – which was below their usual standard – and were narrowly outshot 26-25 by the Red Wings. Forward Bobby McMann, reinserted into the lineup on Saturday, led the Leafs with five shots on goal. However, only four players registered more than three shots on goal, measuring the team’s difficulty in creating sustained pressure on net.
“I thought we competed hard and had a lot of good things going on in the game. Got to finish better,” said head coach Craig Berube post-game. “We can't come out of the game 24 shots on net only, whether it's missing the net, blocked, whatever the case. Got to find a way to get those onto the net more.”
Detroit’s ability to block shots and disrupt shooting lanes played a significant role in limiting Toronto’s offensive production.
“They did a good job blocking a lot of shots. We weren't able to get a lot through,” said forward Mitch Marner.
Marner did, however, manage to thread a shot early in the third period, which Matthew Knies deflected in front to tie the game – a play Toronto could have used more of throughout the full 60 minutes.
Captain Auston Matthews, who notched his second goal in three games, agreed the club needed to create more offensive pressure. Though they had puck possession and attempts at the net, he mentioned the Leafs need to do a better job at maneuvering pucks through lanes and bodies in front.
“I thought we had the puck a lot tonight, but maybe not enough stuff towards their net,” Matthews said. “They blocked a lot of shots, they got lanes. But I mean, I think we just got to do a better job getting more pucks (towards the net) than that.”
Second-chance opportunities, or the “greasy goals” as Berube refers to them, again remained a challenge for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies identified this aspect of the game as a key factor in the outcome.
“I think we just didn't get enough shots on net. Didn't create a lot of loose pucks around the net and kind of made his job easy. I think that was a difference here,” said Knies.
The Leafs’ inability to create traffic in front of Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso and consistently put pucks on net was evident, as the team struggled to break through Detroit’s well-structured defensive layers.
With a quick turnaround, Toronto will look to regroup ahead of their Sunday afternoon matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.