Just a few weeks ago, what seemed like the Toronto Maple Leafs` biggest strength also appeared to be their greatest challenge.
In the previous playoff round, as the Maple Leafs dominated the early games against the Ottawa Senators, no part of Toronto`s play was more impressive than their deadly power play unit. The five-forward group consisting of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies not only scored three goals against the Senators in Game 1 but did so in a mere 20 seconds.
By the conclusion of the six-game series, the unit had converted on six of 17 power play opportunities, ranking as the third-most effective man-advantage unit in Round 1. This was a significant improvement over the team`s poor 1-for-21 performance in the previous postseason.
However, with the Senators replaced by the reigning champion Florida Panthers, and Ottawa`s cautious penalty kill swapped for the Panthers` relentless pressure, the Maple Leafs` power play effectiveness has largely vanished.
This issue was particularly evident in Sunday`s Game 4. Trailing 1-0 on the road and needing a win to push the Panthers to the brink of elimination, the Maple Leafs had three power play chances in the second period to send their all-forward unit onto the ice and tie the game.
Instead of generating quality scoring opportunities, the man-advantage unit proved detrimental, shifting momentum towards Florida by allowing several short-handed chances that required exceptional saves from Joseph Woll.
Before the teams returned for the third period, veteran forward Blake Wheeler, who accumulated 255 power play points over his 16-year NHL career, offered his perspective on the Maple Leafs` power play approach during the Sportsnet intermission analysis.
“I think I`m ready to see that Toronto power play get mixed up a little bit,” Wheeler stated. “The five forwards have certainly made an impact in these playoffs, but they`re giving up too much against this [Florida] penalty kill. You`re starting to see that it`s detracting from some of the excellent things Mitch Marner does when he`s positioned at the point. We`re also not seeing Auston Matthews get his shots off like we`re used to.”
“I`d really like to see Morgan Rielly back at the top. Let`s get Auston Matthews some of those one-timers we`re accustomed to witnessing. Mitch Marner`s primary role on the power play is to set up plays, not to be back-checking against these Florida forwards all night.”
There is no doubt the unit has struggled against the Panthers, who neutralize power plays by aggressively swarming the puck-carrier and forcing turnovers.
“You know, they are very skilled at countering and making you pay for your mistakes,” Marner commented on Tuesday from the Maple Leafs` practice facility locker room. “We simply need to stick to our game plan and maintain our patience. We`ve had our looks – we had opportunities last game as well, things just didn`t go in for us. But we are doing the correct things. We must keep working and find ourselves in advantageous positions.”
