Even Bruins Coach is “Very Surprised” By How Little Offense Leafs’ Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares Have Provided
Stop crying, bro. The Toronto Maple Leafs are down 3-1 in a best-of-seven series to the Boston Bruins. But Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares have only themselves to blame. This is a time when your best players have to perform their best. And while Boston’s Brad Marchand has three goals and eight points in four games, Toronto’s “$40-million four” — which will become the “$45-million four” next season — has combined for three goals and six points in these playoffs. Four of the NHL’s highest-players are being outscored by one.
No wonder the Leafs were reduced to yelling at one another and feeling sick during a listless 3-1 loss to the Bruins on Saturday night. Frustration is starting to seep in.
It was a rare show of emotion from a team that was booed off the ice by the home crowd. This series isn’t quite over. But with how ineffective Toronto’s offense has been, it’s starting to feel that way. Even Bruins coach Jim Montgomery can’t quite believe it. “Very surprised,” said Montgomery. “That being said, we didn’t think that if we allowed Toronto to score it would be a good series for us.”
The Leafs once had the No. 2-ranked offense in the league. They used to attack teams in waves. They made you pay if you took a penalty. But against the Bruins, the Leafs are 1-for-14 on the power play. So far, only the Capitals have scored fewer goals in the playoffs — and they’ve played one less game. Auston Matthews, who led the NHL with 69 goals in the regular season, has scored all three of his points in the same game. John Tavares has one goal. Mitch Marner has a goal and an assist. William Nylander, who missed three games with what was reportedly a bad migraine, was held off the scoresheet in Game 4. “Guys are trying,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “That’s a good team over there that’s limiting us. You can question a lot of things, but you can’t question the effort.”
Whether the effort is there or not, the production hasn’t been for the Leafs. Meanwhile, Marchand has at least a point or more in every game in the series. And David Pastrnak has a pair of goals and a pair of assists.
“In the playoffs, you need your big-time players to make big-time plays,” said Montgomery. “And they’re doing it for us.” Give Boston credit. The Bruins, who didn’t want to get into an up-and-down track meet with the Leafs, have done a great job of what Montgomery called “protecting our house.” When the Leafs have had opportunities, Jeremy Swayman has been terrific in limiting the goals. Still, the Leafs should be better team than what they’ve shown so far. That’s why the fans are booing. That’s why the players were seen yelling at one another. That’s why there is so much frustration.
