The Maple Leafs could use a Scott Stevens in their lineup right now — and maybe some Sanford and Son, too.
uncertain
Leafs → use → lineup
The old TV sitcom’s junkyard dealers might help Toronto scrounge around for at least a point as its home losing streak reached five games on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena, while the rest of the Atlantic Division keeps finding the bits and pieces to move up.
uncertain
rest → help → bits
Trying to force the Minnesota Wild to overtime in the third period after a one-goal lead slipped away, the Leafs gave up the last of a Matt Boldy hat trick in a 5-2 defeat.
asserted
Leafs → try → defeat
As their record fell to 8-11-2 and they scrape the bottom of the division,, even teams such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, below Toronto in the conference wild-card standings, had each grabbed a point Wednesday, the Penguins against the high-flying Oilers.
asserted
teams → fall → Oilers
Edmonton is here Saturday and could complete the Leafs’ first six-game futility sweep at home in the organization’s long history.
uncertain
Edmonton → complete → history
Thursday was not set up for success.
asserted
Thursday → set → success
The Wild, first in the Central Division, matched its franchise high of points to this stage of the season and has won six straight on the road.
asserted
Wild → match → road
Chris Tanev load-managed again
Leaf general manager John Chayka and coach Jim Hiller created a buzz by scratching defenceman Chris Tanev for the second time in three games for what’s become controversial load management with Hiller saying he’ll be back Saturday.
asserted
he → manage → games
While Chayka insisted Tanev’s ice time is being handled carefully only until it’s determined he’s fully recovered from an October upper-body injury, the decision came after a day off and when the Leafs were already without Morgan Reilly on the blue-line.
asserted
Leafs → insist → line
Cole McWard dressed in Tanev’s place, partnered with Dakota Mermis.
asserted
McWard → dress → Mermis
After two Leafs power plays in the first period resulted in one shot, specifically the second unit’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson from the slot, and Auston Matthews was stopped attempting a five-hole breakaway snap on Jesper Wallstedt, the Wild struck.
asserted
Wild → result → Wallstedt
Troy Stecher’s exit pass ended up on Kirill Kaprizov’s stick and on to Boldy.
asserted
pass → end → Boldy
Fourth-liner Zack MacEwen, a game-time decision because of a wrist injury in Tuesday’s tumble to Colorado, took advantage of a line change that found him out with Matthews and set up the captain’s 12th.
asserted
that → take → 12th
On his regular unit, MacEwen then buried a Teddy Blueger pass.
asserted
MacEwen → bury → pass
Boldy’s second, on a partial screen, tied it entering the third period before he jumped on William Nylander and a tired Leafs second line.
asserted
he → tie → Nylander
Just after the Leafs killed a second minor in the game to Darren Raddysh, big Michael McCarron was still parked in power-play position for a rebound.
asserted
McCarron → kill → rebound
Danila Yurov added an empty netter.
asserted
Yurov → add → netter
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Offence continues to sputter
In addition to defensive woes, the Leafs have just nine goals over the last five games.
asserted
Leafs → recommend → games
Stecher had tried to put the club’s overall struggles in perspective earlier in the day.
asserted
Stecher → try → day
It obviously hasn’t gone our way on this homestand, but our belief hasn’t wavered and the connectivity among the group hasn’t wavered either.”
asserted
connectivity → go → group
Stecher said the Leafs had made a couple of adjustments to their system and we’d be expecting it to be aimed at cutting down so many turnovers on breakouts and zone coverage breakdowns.
asserted
it → say → breakouts
Because when the Leafs get the puck on the sticks of their top offensive players, good things usually happen.
asserted
things → get → players
Stecher also noted the Leafs have not defended well and the penalty kill that was running at a near-perfect level has given up goals in eight of its last nine games.
asserted
that → note → games
Anthony Stolarz, with five of his team’s eight wins and a better save percentage than Sergei Bobrovsky, held the Leafs in the game until being exposed too often and delivering a couple of clutch saves where his counterpart has not delivered as many.
asserted
counterpart → hold → many
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