Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 changes team needs to make in Game 2
3. Power play cannot continue to struggle as it has
It doesn’t take an expert to show that Toronto’s biggest issue continues to be their power play. To make matters worse, allowing a shorthanded goal only adds insult to injury considering many fans would rather the team decline the man advantage at this point.
Did the Leafs get too complacent with their struggles and think that this talented group will figure it out? It sure seems that way considering there haven’t been many drastic changes to address the power play.
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Marner continues to be played in a shooting area despite not having a single goal with the man advantage and every player on the ice knows he isn’t a threat to shoot. The only change we have seen is Morgan Rielly getting replaced by Rasmus Sandin and that hasn’t yielded much right now.
We said earlier that there should be no reason why Nylander isn’t on the team’s top unit with Tavares out. This team needs shooters and Nylander is third on the team in power play goals, there isn’t a reason for him to be on the bench so that Joe Thornton can just give the puck away and put Sandin in a tough spot.
One other area that can help the team offensively and on the power play is winning more faceoffs. Toronto struggled going up against Montreal in the face-off circle especially when you see that the Canadiens had a 56% to 44% advantage.
If Toronto improves with the draw, especially on the power play, it avoids having them chase the game and with the man advantage, they can earn more zone time.
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What would you like to see the Leafs do differently heading into Game 2? Can they regroup with Tavares out of the lineup? Let us know in the comments below.