A seed a doubt has been planted, as the Toronto Maple Leafs, once again, weren’t able to finish off the Ottawa Senators.
Game 5 saw Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark stand tall, stopping all 27 shots he faced, shutting out the Maple Leafs 4-0. It felt like most of Toronto’s chances were coming from the outside and rarely were able to generate any offence in tight. What Ullmark saw he stopped, and everything else missed the net, including captain Auston Matthews missing a partial breakaway in the second period, and then he hit the post with five minutes left in the third, with the Leafs down 2-0 at the time.
The ‘closing a series’ demons live on for the Maple Leafs. With the loss on home ice, things are getting dicey, sure, but it’s not time to panic just yet. There were some positives on Tuesday night. The power play was back to their urgent ways, getting shots on net in the first 10 seconds of the man advantage. Chris Tanev was a defensive wizard in Game 5, saving multiple goals around the goal line, and continues to be a staple on the blueline. Up front, the line of Scott Laughton, Steven Lorentz, and Calle Jarnkrok used their speed and aggressiveness to solidify a forecheck, and moving into Game 6, should remain together.
The same can’t be said for the second and third line. Craig Berube was trying to do whatever he could to spark some offence, which included moving William Nylander up with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews for a few shifts. Berube also shifted Max Domi up the the wing on the second line, and slid Pontus Holmberg down to the middle of the third line. Right now, that’s the one line that needs a shake up heading into Game 6. The Maple Leafs need more from Bobby McMann, Max Pacioretty, and Pontus Holmberg. Don’t be surprised if Nick Robertson gets a look in Ottawa on Thursday. He has the capabilities to put the puck in the net, and the Maple Leafs could use a timely goal in the worst way.
In net, this loss can’t be hung on Anthony Stolarz one bit, and he deserves to start Game 6. There’s been a bit of chatter about using Joseph Woll in this series, but at this point, that doesn’t feel like an avenue Berube travels down. Instead, look for the Leafs’ bench boss to shake things up with his forward lines.
At the moment, the Senators have all the momentum of the series. The Leafs will make way to Ottawa on Thursday night for Game 6, 1-14 in their last 15 attempts to close out a series.
Leafs Nation is hopeful they can exorcise their demons, and force a handshake line in Kanata.
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