The Maple Leafs' Recipe for Success

So why are the Leafs winning? I know the commercial answer: “Duh, they have scored more goals.” Let me help with my analysis of the Maple Leafs’ recipe for success. 

The Chef

Every recipe needs a chef to make it come all together. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Chef is Craig Berube. What makes him such an awesome coach is not just having great players, but also his knack for getting them to gel in a way other coaches can’t. He has built the perfect system for the Leafs to succeed. 

The Main Course 

The main dish is what everyone’s really here for, and right now, that’s the goaltending duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. They are like two brothers constantly trying to outdo each other. The combo gives the teams a chance to win every night—exactly what every team hopes their goalies can deliver! 

The Veggies and Salad

We all know that veggies and rabbit food are essential for getting those vitamins to keep us energized. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ veggies and salad are their defense. Chris Tanev leads the defense and won’t stop at anything to ensure victory. He is a stalwart defenceman who does not give up and stops at nothing to win. Morgan Reilly has been the glue holding the defense together. It is about time Morgan got some support on the blue line. Thankfully, Simon Benoit has stepped up big time this season and has been a fantastic surprise addition!

The Dessert 

Every dinner should have a dessert, which brings smiles to our faces. The Maple Leaf’s desserts have to be the offense. We’re talking about the glory of scoring goals, with Marner, Tavares, and, of course, Matthews leading the charge—oh, and can’t forget that guy named Nylander! And let’s not overlook how Kneis is really stepping up this season; he’s been a great support for the team.

There you have it.

Randy

NY Islanders: For the Love of Hockey

For the love of hockey, please teach the Islanders how to defend a penalty kill. With every penalty, the Islanders leave the player in the middle of the ice and let him stand there. You can’t keep giving teams scoring chances right in the slot! As a whole, they keep on missing their assignments. I wonder if this is on the coaching or the players? Can this be a miscommunication problem? They seem to lack confidence about where they should be positioned. Instead of staying calm, they’re panicking and chasing after the puck like chickens with their heads cut off. They can’t afford to be caught out of position like this all the time! The defense really needs to make it more challenging for players to get in front of the net. And those forwards? They’ve got to do a better job shutting down passing lanes and getting their sticks in the way. They are way too loosey-goosey.  

On the bright side, the Islanders have played better in the third period in the last two games. It’s also positive that the Islanders are mostly competitive, even without Barzal. They’ve shown some solid play during this stretch. They must try to stay in the race until the big guns return to the lineup.

Conclusion

Paul Kreischer says, “The young guns are still learning how to play in the NHL, and their offensive numbers were suffering at the beginning of this season. You can find Paul on Twitter @P_Kreischer. It’s an interesting point that these younger players need to get the hang of things in the NHL!

Randy