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All good issues should come to an finish, we’ve heard.
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Within the case of the Maple Leafs, a five-game profitable streak sputtered to an unpleasant loss of life on Monday evening at Scotiabank Enviornment.
The Leafs by no means had been capable of get totally untracked in opposition to an lively Los Angeles Kings staff, shedding 5-1 to deliver Toronto’s run of success to an finish with a thud.
The season-high five-game house stand completed with an uncharacteristic begin by the Leafs — a minimum of, throughout the previous couple of weeks — because the Kings scored twice within the first interval and didn’t have a ton of bother with Toronto within the following 40 minutes.
“What I’m perplexed by is the beginning, why we are able to’t come out and assert ourselves and have urgency and have tempo, simply let individuals fly by way of the impartial zone and get to our internet,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “It’s not adequate. The opposition doesn’t give us that. We don’t get free passes to fly by way of the impartial zone.”
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That lack of urgency off the opening faceoff burrowed beneath Keefe’s pores and skin.
“That’s what we’re making an attempt to get out,” Keefe mentioned. “Till we get that sorted out, we’re going to proceed to trip this wave and it’s not adequate.”
Jack Campbell, who was named the NHL’s second star of the week after starring in three Leafs victories, made 24 saves earlier than a crowd of 18,893.
“I’m fairly positive everyone within the constructing is aware of it wasn’t my finest … value us two factors,” mentioned Campbell, slightly too important of his personal efficiency.
Jonathan Fast stopped 33 pictures within the Kings internet. A fast glove on Auston Matthews within the third interval helped protect the Kings’ two-goal cushion.
With 4 1/2 minutes remaining, Phillip Danault scored his second of the sport after a John Tavares turnover. Adrian Kempe then scored into an empty internet.
Los Angeles, enjoying with out the injured Drew Doughty, gained its fifth in a row.
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Down 2-0, the Leafs lower the Kings result in one when Tavares scored on an influence play at 1:51 of the second interval. That was the captain’s sixth aim in six video games and the 14th in a row scored by one in every of Tavares, Matthews, Mitch Marner or William Nylander. Marner had the first help, giving him a degree in 11 of the previous 13 Leafs targets.
Of the 19 targets throughout the profitable streak, the core 4 had 15.
The Kings restored their two-goal margin at 13:56 of the second, however not with out some controversy.
Danault, so good in opposition to the Leafs for the Montreal Canadiens within the first spherical of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, was credited with the aim following a jumble of our bodies in entrance of Campbell.
Although Danault appeared to take a swipe on the puck along with his skate, the aim stood after a overview after it was decided no distinct kicking movement was made by Danault. To make issues slightly extra painful, the puck barely crossed the road earlier than Travis Dermott pulled it again.
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Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin spoke within the morning of the Leafs’ improved work ethic as a serious thrust within the membership’s profitable streak.
However the Kings, beginning a four-game journey, had been the hungrier group within the first interval and had been rewarded with the 2-0 lead.
Los Angeles outshot Toronto 12-6 within the opening 20 minutes and infrequently gained puck battles. The Kings’ forecheck additionally was on level.
A pair of former Leafs prospects teamed up for the primary aim.
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The speedy Trevor Moore, who went to the Kings within the commerce that introduced Campbell north, burst previous Timothy Liljegren, saved Rasmus Sandin to the surface and lifted the puck over Campbell’s glove at 10:52. Carl Grundstrom, who grew to become a King when the Leafs acquired Muzzin, assisted on the aim.
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The short Kings burned the Leafs once more at 14:21 when Andreas Athanasiou went huge round a flat-footed Muzzin and beat Campbell.
Between the targets, Fast made a nice toe save on Wayne Simmonds.
“We weren’t capable of maintain our recreation,” Tavares mentioned of the general effort. “We didn’t win sufficient of these battles within the tight areas. Giving up the lead, having to play from behind, we didn’t make sufficient performs and generate momentum within the hockey recreation.”
The Leafs will look to regain their consistency once they hit the highway for a recreation in Philadelphia in opposition to the Flyers on Wednesday evening.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
