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Posted at 2023-5-29 18:02:32 | Only Author Replies reward |Descending browser |Read mode
Complete game.It was what the Toronto Maple Leafs needed entering Thursday night's matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins  and it was exactly what head coach Sheldon Keefe got."I just want to see a response in our effort, our enthusiasm, our competitivene s," . "You know all those things that we know are really important and weve talked about a number of times as a team, about it being the foundation."NHL TRADE TRACKER: So what happened? Acro s all lines and pairings and between the pipes, from start to finish, the  Serge Ibaka Jersey Leafs dominated as they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0."I dont think 'frustrating' is the right word," Toronto center Alex Kerfoot said when asked why his teamcan't be more consistent after the win. "I think maybe it's disappointing, the effort weve had attimes this year, but whether you're a team who wins  Reggie Jackson Jersey games or can't win games, every team in this league can win games. . . . We've just got to find that energy, that bite, that jam that we had tonight and be able to bring that on a consistent basis."Here's a look at three thingsthat worked for the Leafs in their winMuzzin: Put up or shut upAfter watching the Leafs suffer back-to-back 5-2 lo ses to the Sabres on Sunday and then the Penguins on Tuesday defenseman Jake Muzzin called out his teammates.Everyone's got to take a look in the mirror and we have to be better, because thats unacceptable,". "We have to find the urgency, the pa sion, the love of the game, the love to compete for each other. All of that needs to come. I dont know why its not there. Sometimes when we struggle we want the easy game, and its not going to be easy against good teams."That's all fine to say, but Muzzin is a leader, and leading by example is always critical Nicolas Batum Jersey   and he did just that Thursday.He not only netted the opening goal, he also led the team with four blocked shots and collecteda sists on the team's third and fourth goals."I think the guys played really good, Muzz especially I thought was unbelievable today," said goaltender Frederik Andersen after the game. "Obviously, a great goal and amazing breakout pa s for (Kasperi Kapanen's)goal, I think it was. Overall, a really good effort by the guys."Jake Muzzin gets the leafs on the board! 1-0   Ah yes, the Leafs. (@LeafsAllDayy) , Muzzin and defensive partner Justin Holl led the team in Expected Goals For  1.51 for Holl, 1.43 for Muzzin Scoring Chances For (14 for Holl, 13 for Muzzin) and high-danger chances (nine each) at 5v5. They also led the team in ice time, with Muzzin clocking in 23:02 andHoll at 21:04."Just complete. He battled, he was competitive, he shot one into the net, found a way to get a couple of a sists," Keefe said after the game of Muzzin's performance. "Just all over the game. He was a real leader for us back there."Driving to the netThe Maple Leafs dominated the net game. They wentto the front and produced16 high-danger chances compared to four for the Pens at 5v5 and a53.7 CF%. Just for comparison, this Mfiondu Kabengele Jersey  was the heat map from Sunday's lo s in Buffalo, , where the Sabres had 20 HDCF to the Leafs' 13. The Leafs were also crushed by the Sabres'60.2 CF%. It definitely helped that Andersen had a strong game in postinghis second shutout of the season. He returned  Danilo Gallinari Jersey from a neck injury on Feb. 13 and had allowed 13 goals on 79 shots (an .835 save percentage) in his first three starts back."He was excellent, he was perfect, he keeps it out of the net," Keefe said of his All-Star netminder's 24-save performance. "He battled, he looked solid there. It was just a really good sign for our team. He made saves on the pucks that they were throwing around the net, but there was also a lot of loose ones hanging out there. Our guys collapsed real hard on the loose pucks to maybe not nece sarily get it out like we would have liked, but at least kept away from our net and allowed us to settle the game."Kapanen proves he's here to stayThere havebeen plenty of rumors regarding Kapanen's departure from Toronto  after all, he's No. 24 on  and there are always questions  Ky Bowman Jersey about the Leafs needing secondary scoring.Thursday night, Kapanen showed he wants to stick around for the long haul. He not only potted his 12th goal of the season, he alsodropped the gloves withJared McCann after he wasn't happy with a Patric Hornqvist hit on Rasmus Sandin (Hornqvist wouldn't go).MORE: "It shows emotion. That's what we were looking for," said Kerfoot. "We wanted kind of a little more bite to our group. Hes a fiery guy at times and he had a great game tonight. I thought he was all over the forecheck, he was physical all night. When you see a guy like him drop the gloves, everyone on the bench gets a boost from that."Kasperi Kapanen: "I don't think anybody's really expecting me to score too many goals or get too many points, but just to forecheck & be a presence out there & that's what I was trying to do. Right off the hop get in their face & let them know it's going to be a long night ..." Mark Masters (@markhmasters) In addition to the physical aspect, Kapanen and his linemates,Kerfoot and Pierre Engvall, dominated the game. They led the team with a  Patrick Beverley Jersey 71.43 CF% and a 20.36 CF% Rel, . Adding Kerfoot to center the line definitely worked in the Leafs' favor and may have given the wingers a kick-start."Yeah, I think it really helps us. That line has really been struggling for us to find an identity and to find some consistency," said Keefe."It's tough for us because I thought Kerf was doing an excellent job with John Tavares and William Nylander and  Danny Manning Jersey playing well there. ... I just thought that Alex could bring something back to that line. We wanted to give him a chance to be a center and get that line going. The wingers, Engvall and Kappy, are two guys we think have more to give us. That happened today."It sure did. Kapanen scored his first goal since Feb. 11 and just his second in his last 18 games. He is on pace for 16  below his 20-goal output last season  so if the Leafs can get him going, then the secondary scoring will help balance out the lineup.
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