The Canadiens broke a franchise record against the Leafs, because of course they did
The Toronto Maple Leafs absolutely shelled the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night, outshooting the last place Habs 51-18. Let me repeat that, the Leafs outshot the Montreal Canadiens FIFTY ONE TO EIGHTEEN. As is tradition in games like these, the Leafs lost the game, mostly thanks to a missed tripping call against Paul Byron on Auston Matthews.
The 33-shot margin was the largest home shot differential in Canadiens franchise history. Never in their 112-year history have the Habs been outshot so badly at home. That stat isn't limited to wins either, even in losses the Habs have never been dominated so badly on the shot tracker. No other team in the NHL, heck, no other team in the world could manage to pull this off, nobody but the Leafs.
Jake Allen deserves an ice bath and then to not pay for a meal or drink for the rest of the season. The Habs netminder was absolutely sensational. He stopped 49 of 51 shots for a .961sv%. In advanced stats terms, he allowed 2 goals on 5.51 Expected goals. Anyone who regularly looks at these stats will know what an anomaly that is. This was an absolutely ridiculous performance from Allen. Credit where credit is due. His blocker save on Mitch Marner will be on highlight reels for months.
As for the Leafs, its very hard to watch them play the way they did and still lose. These are games where you need to find a way to win. Say they got goalied, say the refs screwed them, say whatever you want. You need to win these games. The Leafs desperately need to find some depth scoring. Ilya Mikheyev and Pierre Engvall have played better recently, but the Leafs' 4th line has been a black hole as far as offence is concerned. It may be time for a youthful infusion there.
The Leafs also need to find some scoring from their D corps. They sit 31st in the league in scoring by defensemen. Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie and Rasmus Sandin each have 4 goals, Jake Muzzin has 2, Liljegeren and Holl each have 1 and Lyubushkin and Giordano are scoreless since joining the team.
Matthews, Marner and Bunting can't do it all on their own. Its time for the rest of the lineup to find some finishing ability.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 174 ANSWERS The Canadiens broke a franchise record against the Leafs, because of course they did Will the Leafs ever beat a bottom-feeder again? | ||
| No | 54 | 31 % |
| No | 28 | 16.1 % |
| No | 30 | 17.2 % |
| Other | 62 | 35.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
