Leafs allowing too many shots on goal

For the first time since April 2000, the Toronto Maple Leafs went an entire period without a shot on goal.

Leafs struggling to generate offence

It hadn't happened in 13 long years

For the first time since the year 2000, the Toronto Maple Leafs failed to get a single shot on goal in the third period. Not one. Outshot 17 - nothing by the Penguins.

They followed that up with another goose egg in overtime, before losing in a shootout

“Nights like last night bring you to earth in a hurry,” said coach Randy Carlyle the morning after his team blew a 4-1 lead and were held without a shot for the last 25 minutes of the game.

“I don’t sleep well. I get stress headaches,” added the coach when asked if he is concerned about the way his team is playing.

The Leafs are last in the NHL giving up 36.1 shots a game. They are 28^th in the league in terms of shots taken on goal at 26.1.

“Statistically points wise, body of work, body of play I don’t think we are satisfied,” said Carlyle. “We’ve been pleading about our shot totals and directing pucks to the net and simplifying. “

“It eventually catches up to you if you get outshot like that,” warned David Clarkson.  “We are in the midst of figuring it out and like everybody in life, you go through learning things and as a team we’re continually getting better.”

“If I had the answer to that we wouldn’t be talking about it,” said Carlyle. “I don’t know who has the answer to that.”

But the Leafs ARE determined to find that answer. They’ve been outshot in all but 3 games this season, and with three losses in four games, they know they need to be better if they want to remain in a playoff position.

“It’s not something we are happy about,” said defenceman Carl Gunnarsson. “You can’t just go out and worry about it too much. Obviously you have to work on it. There’s no reason to get that spinning in your head all day.”

“We believe this team can have success because we have talent,” said Carlyle. “We can play to a higher level and that’s what we are going to force ourselves into.”

The penalty kill, once a key to the early season success, has plummeted from an impressive second in the league to 20th and that superb has been below-average lately.

“Obviously we’ve given up 11 goals in two games — that’s not going to cut it,” Carlyle said. “That’s not going to work in the NHL. We know that. We’ve got to continue to work on that. Stapling people and separating people from the puck.”

That’s got to become more prevalent in the defensive zone for a Leafs team that has a daunting schedule in front of them as they head into a stretch of games that invludes Sharks, Stars, Senators, Bruins, Kings, Blues, Blackhawks and Penguins.

Seth Jones making a push for the U.S. Olympic Team

Trevor Smith has been huge for the Maple Leafs

To get a better understanding of what Trevor Smith has meant to the Toronto Maple Leafs just take into account what Joffrey Lupul said on Wednesday.

“He’s a big reason why we have been able to have a good record with three centres out,” said Lupul.

At 28 years of age – after playing a 36 NHL games over the course of  seven seasons for Pittsburgh, Tampa and with the Islanders  – Smith seems to have finally found a home in Toronto.

“It’s been awesome,” said Smith, who signed as a free agent with the Leafs in July. “Playing for the Maple Leafs is a dream come true.”

Smith is captain of the Toronto Marlies, but has been recalled on a couple of occasions to the NHL club thanks to injuries to Dave Bolland and Tyler Bozak and a suspension to Nazem Kadri.

He had a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s win over the New York Islanders playing on a line with Lupul and David Clarkson.

“They are making it kind of easy for me,” said Smith. “They have been really welcoming and it's been a pleasure playing with both of them so far.”

Smith, who was born in Ottawa but has lived all across the country, has taken advantage of his opportunity with the Leafs picking up 3 goals and 3 assists in 12 NHL games.

“Definitely coming in as a younger guy you aren't confident, you aren’t ready,” said Smith. “Now at this point in my career there is no time to waste. You have to be ready to play right now.”

“There’s been a little bit of an opportunity for me. It’s been a nice spot for me to come up and try to prove what I can do. It was important for me to come up with a big start."

That he has.

During practice on Wednesday, Smith was on the Leafs second line once again with Lupul and Clarkson, as his NHL dream looks as if it will continue a bit longer.

There was some thought that Smith would be sent back to the Marlies.

That doesn’t seem to be the case. He’s been too valuable to the Leafs.

Jake Gardiner looks to score first goal of season in his home state

David Clarkson set to face the Devils

Jay McClement could see greater role

Randy Carlyle takes a shot at reporters

Randy Carlyle joke with reporters after practice on Monday that social media has taken over those who cover the Leafs, calling out Sportsnet's Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) in particular.

JVR likely to centre top line

With David Bolland and Tyler Bozak injured, the Leafs hope James van Riemsdyk can help fill the void.

Leafs to try JVR at centre

Saturday may have been the worst game for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

Not only were they shutout in Vancouver, but they lost Dave Bolland to injury.

With Tyler Bozak already out of the lineup, the Leafs are missing their top 2 centres for a while.

The 27 year-old Bolland is out indefinitely after successful surgery to repair a severed tendon on the outside of his left ankle.

Just how long Bolland will be out of the Leafs lineup is anybody’s guess.

 

"It’s too early to say,” Carlyle said Monday, following a lengthy 90 minute practice. “(Doctors) don’t really give you that. They can say that it’s five months and then we hope it’s two. We don’t really know until the healing process starts and they do an assessment and then we’ll get more tightened in on the time frame.”

The Leafs confirmed Monday that Tyler Bozak out of the lineup until at least November 19th with a hamstring injury. The team leader in ice-time among forwards suffered the injury in late October in a loss to Columbus.

“He’s still a ways away,” said Carlyle. He added that Bozak is not even at the point where he is working out or riding the bike.

“When you lose players like Bozak and Bolland it puts a strain on everybody else and puts a strain on the rest of the guys to make up some of the minutes those two those play and it gives an another opportunity to other players to play higher in your lineup,” noted Carlyle.

One player who will be asked to help carry the load and - switch positions -  is James van Riemsdyk, who on Monday was centering the Leafs top line at practice between Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.

“It’s a little bit different,” admitted van Riemsdyk.  “You are used to playing a certain position you naturally know where to go. Maybe you have to think about it a little bit more. It’s a lot about timing, being at the tight spot at the right time.”

“You don’t make it to the NHL by just knowing how to do one thing,” said Lupul. “There will be more expected of him defensively than playing on the wing but if he applies himself and works hard like I know he’s going to he will be fine.”

Carlyle discussed moving the 6 foot 3 Van Riemsdyk to centre prior to the lock-out shortened season, before the idea was dropped.

He points to the success Pittsburgh and Boston have had, due in large part to the strength up the middle. Like most coaches Carlyle likes the idea of having size at centre.

“You look at the big programs and the big hockey clubs and teams that have had a fair amount of success over the last while, you can always point to their centre ice position as being a solid position for them,” said Carlyle.

Van Riemsdyk has played centre before. But the last time he played that position 4 years ago at the university of New Hampshire.

“Doesn’t take a rocket science to go in that direction,” said Caarlyle when asked why van Riemsdyk was a logical choice at centre. “When a player have previously played that -  obviously not in the pro level but in the college level - we think he’s more of the fit right now.”

“(I’m) playing against little bit better players now than then, so we will see,” said van Riemsdyk.  

While the Leafs don’t play again until Friday, JVR will have some time to get used to playing centre.

You can also bet with their top 2 centres out for a while, look for the team to explore trade possibilities to upgrade at centre.

Problem is: Who is available and at what price?

Leafs lose to Canucks and lose Bolland to injury

What a difference a week makes.

Last Saturday the Toronto Maple Leafs may have played their best game in beating the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Leafs Head Coach Randy Carlyle didn’t need many words to describe what happened to his Leafs this Saturday in Vancouver against the Canucks.

“Terrible game for us,” said the Head Coach. “Probably the worst game we’ve played this year.”

“That’s probably not too far off an assessment,” James van Riemsdyk said.

The Leafs were shutout for the first time this season losing to the Canucks 4-0. It also snapped a three-game winning.

The Leafs were outshot 47-21 – the third straight game they have given up more than 40 shots in a game and the 13^th time in 15 games they were outshot.

"That's a theme and we're not happy about it," said Carlyle with frustration.

"We've got to find a way to play better for these goalies," said David Clarkson speaking of Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer. “These two have stood on their head for us and been unbelievable all season."

That’s just the beginning of the bad news.

Before the game they put centre Tyler Bozak on long-term injury meaning he isn’t eligible to return from his lower body injury until November 21.

And during the game, centre Dave Bolland was lost to the team with an injury similar to what Erik Karlsson suffered – a partially sliced tendon in his foot- when Zack Kassian cut him finishing a check.

His Achilles tendon partly sliced, Karlsson would miss ten weeks for the Senators. "I don't know the degree of severity or which tendon, but he (Bolland) did suffer a cut to that area," said Carlyle.

Back in Nov. 2011, the Leafs endured a similar injury to Dion Phaneuf when he was cut by the skate of then-Senators forward Peter Regin. Phaneuf would miss 16 games with a left leg laceration

The loss of Bolland – likely for a couple of months – will be a difficult one for the Leafs to cope with. Add to the fact that Bozak is out for the time being leaves the Leafs very thin at centre.

Nazem Kadri, Jay McClement and Trevor Smith are the only centres on the roster right now.

Van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel may be asked to play centre

"Obviously it's a blow for us," said Jay McClement. “He’s been really good for us in all situations."

The Leafs have had their share of injuries (Leafs players have already missed 43 games due to injury). That doesn’t include the 10-game suspension to David Clarkson.

Bolland has provided offence scoring 6 goals so far, and defensively he has often been asked to shadow the opposition’s best centre.

Randy Carlyle just shook his head and laughed when asked to describe how big a loss this is for his hockey team.

No words were necessary from the coach.

Expect the Leafs to call-up 34 year-old Jerred Smithson who has spent most of his career with the Nashville Predators but was signed by the Leafs a few weeks ago.

The Leafs have become quite good at dealing with adversity this season.

The Bolland injury will surely test the team going forward. How they react will likely determine the team’s playoff hopes.

Prior to Saturday’s game the Leafs looked to be in a good spot a month into the season.