The injury bug hit hard for the Toronto Maple Leafs this week, but still managed to post a 2–1–0 record on the week.
Nick Robertson was placed on long-term injured reserve, and Aaron Dell and Jason Spezza were placed on waivers. Dell was claimed (as expected, based on the desperation for goaltending this season). Jason Spezza, on the other hand, made it clear that if he was claimed by another team he would be retiring, and because of this, he cleared waivers. Toronto now has the ability to carry 19 players. The team then called up Pierre Engvall. Engvall signed a two-year deal last February, before he began having issues producing. At the beginning of this season, Engvall did not even make the taxi squad.
Monday, Jan. 18: Winnipeg Jets
Sheldon Keefe ran with seven defenders and 11 forwards, allowing Mikko Lehtonen to crack the lineup for the first time. Lehtonen signed with the Leafs over the summer, and started this year in the KHL, amassing 17 points in 17 games, before coming to North America for training camp. Connor Hellebuyck and Frederik Andersen were both sharp early, and the first period ended 0–0. The Leafs’ penalty kill also looked much better than the week prior, only allowing two shots on their first kill.
The power play has been a highlight for the Leafs so far this season, and early in the second period, put the Leafs up by one. Mitch Marner (who, to start this season, has arguably been the Leafs’ best forward) extended the lead, but Kyle Connor brought the Jets back within one at 2–1. The Leafs held on, Marner getting the empty net goal to end it. Andersen, once again, looked good. Lehtonen was excellent. While he is clearly still adjusting to the different ice size (and its effect on timing and gap control), he was skating well and made good decisions with the puck. The Leafs this season are deep on defence, almost too deep. In fact, Rasmus Sandin has yet to make it into a game.
Wednesday, Jan. 20: Edmonton Oilers
This game was expected to be a high-scoring, high-offense game. But, it really was not. The first goal of the game was an own goal that beat Andersen after deflecting off Jake Muzzin‘s skate. In the third period, Auston Matthews scored, standing on the goal line by the net, to tie the game up at 1–1.
The game-winning goal for the Oilers came after a controversial penalty call.
Jake Muzzin gets 2 minutes because Yamamoto decided to dive pic.twitter.com/ElayOwGHYZ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 21, 2021
From this angle, it does not look like Muzzin actually takes the penalty.
A big issue in this game was the lack of secondary scoring. In fact, it has been an issue throughout the season so far for Toronto. The Leafs’ strength is their depth, especially compared to the other teams in their division. Even with Matthews’ line taking on the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisatl line (meaning other lines had more favorable matchups), there was still no production from the depth.
Joe Thornton left the game after a rough hit along the boards in the third period. After the game, it was announced he had a fractured rib and would be placed on LTIR for a minimum of four weeks.
Friday, Jan. 22: The Oilers, again
Matthews did not play in the second game against the Oilers, the team citing “upper-body soreness” as the reason why. This seems to just be a maintenance day, as Matthews is not seriously injured and is set to play Sunday against the Calgary Flames.
The Leafs struggled with zone exits early, but Andersen stood tall, and the first period ended 0–0. The first power play unit struggled without Matthews, and ended up giving up a shorthanded goal. Later in the same penalty, the Leafs tied it up, as Spezza set up Adam Brooks for the goal. Jimmy Vesey gave the Leafs the lead minutes later. In this game, the team’s depth was much more productive.
The Leafs ended up taking the game 4–2.