Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 observations from 7-2 win over the Jets
By Austin Owens
Limiting Laine
Fans quickly blocked out the Leafs last trip to Winnipeg. Unless you had Patrik Laine in your fantasy lineup; in which case it was a great night.
The Fin scored three goals, including the overtime winner to complete a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory.
This game, however, was a different story. The Toronto Maple Leafs honed in on Laine, making sure the star didn’t have any time to create.
His biggest weapon is undoubtedly his shot, and the Leafs did the best job at limiting that. In his 18:16 minutes of ice time, Laine only had two shots. That stat is even more impressive, when you take into account Laine had eight minutes of power-play time.
The Jets rely heavily on Laine and his lethal one-timer to get them the majority of their goals on the man advantage. The Leafs’ efficient defence of the winger could be credited in part to why the Jets were 0-8 on the power-play.
Laine did find the scoresheet late in the game when he had a pretty saucer pass that found Mark Scheifele, but otherwise, a solid performance by the Leafs defensively.