There’s a lot going wrong with the Leafs. Fixing one problem isn’t the solution. That was extant in this 6-5 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ilya Samsonov allowed 6 goals on 20 shots, and it was 4 on 11 at one point in the second period. That’s a problem.The defense limited the Blue Jackets to only 20 shots and only 1.6 expected goals, but they also allowed several bad rush chances – including a 3-on-1 – that aren’t perfectly accounted for in expected goals. That’s a problem.
The Leafs led by two a couple times, so the scoring is there and it’s hard to complain with five goals in a game. Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, and Nick Robertson all scored for the Leafs. Noah Gregor continued his streak of having a great rush chance and either hitting the post or drawing a penalty. Overall, the offense is not the problem. It kind of sucks that after years of needing a better defense, the Leafs of last year finally figured it out only for the team to go back several years now. Get more defensive players. Scoring was never an issue.
Sigh. Concluding the introduction of the recap, the Blue Jackets got goals from Sillinger, Gaunce, Voronkov, Johnson, Fantilli, and Gaudreau. Elvis Merzlikins left the game after one period due to an illness after allowing two goals. Spencer Martin allowed two on 19 shots the rest of the way and got the win thanks to the Blue Jackets offense.
