Leafs goaltender takes ownership of the loss to the Pens
After the Pittsburgh Penguins handed the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-2 loss and their second straight loss, goaltender Erik Kallgren was not pleased with himself post-game. His displeasure was due to the weak five-hole goal that squeezed past him just under two minutes into the third period to give the Pens the lead.
The goal came from the stick of left-winger Brock McGinn and was the deciding factor in the Leafs' eventual loss in the Hockey Hall of Fame game. The Penguins, who currently sit 7th in the Metropolitan division, were a very beatable opponent for the Leafs. Kallgren posted 19 saves on 22 shots with a .864% save percentage and was unable to help secure the win in a tight game when it came down to it.
This game marks Kallgren's seventh start of the season, to which he now has a 3.00 GAA and an overall save percentage of .866%. In five of his seven appearances this season, Kallgren has had a save percentage in the .800's, as he faces his second straight loss between the pipes.
From his comments, it seems Kallgren is taking the blame for the Leafs' loss. He wasn't tested all that often, as he only faced 22 shots throughout the game, but the Penguins were able to capitalize on their best scoring chances, ultimately putting the Leafs away. Adding to his troubles, the goals allowed on his behalf seemed to be a confidence killer, as the effects were reflected in the game-winning goal. In the goalie duel between Kallgren and Casey DeSmith, the Penguins netminder was able to control the crease and limit the Leafs from high-percentage scoring opportunities. Down the line, Kallgren couldn't provide the Leafs with enough stops or key saves when they needed him the most.
It will be interesting to see how the Leafs respond after the loss against a somewhat dysfunctional Pittsburgh Penguins team, and a question mark for their goaltending situation remains.
Credit: hockeydb.com
| POLL | ||
12 NOVEMBRE | 148 ANSWERS Leafs goaltender takes ownership of the loss to the Pens Will the Leafs snap their 2-game losing skid against the Canucks tonight? | ||
| Yes | 102 | 68.9 % |
| No | 46 | 31.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
