The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough challenge on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, ultimately losing 3-2. While the Leafs performed well at even strength, the difference came down to special teams, with the Hurricanes capitalizing on two power plays.
Carolina’s Sebastian Aho played a crucial role with one goal and two assists, contributing to the Hurricanes’ third consecutive win. Despite a strong 5-on-5 performance by the Leafs, their struggles on the power play and penalty kill proved costly.
Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged the significance of special teams, emphasizing the Hurricanes’ league-leading performance in this aspect over the past month. Keefe expressed satisfaction with the team’s 5-on-5 play but highlighted the need for more scoring.
Prior to the game, Keefe addressed the team’s recent mistakes, leading to the decision to scratch center David Kampf. Keefe stated that this move served as a message to the team, emphasizing a lower tolerance for errors.
Although the Leafs improved at even strength, the absence of power-play goals and challenges on the penalty kill continued to plague them. Keefe, however, stood by his decision to sit Kampf despite his penalty-killing expertise.
Carolina’s Michael Bunting and Seth Jarvis scored the crucial goals for the Hurricanes, while goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov’s standout performance played a pivotal role in securing the win.
Leafs’ Timothy Liljegren and Nicholas Robertson found the back of the net, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Hurricanes. Goaltender Martin Jones received praise from Keefe for keeping the Leafs in the game.
The Leafs have now faced three consecutive losses and five defeats in their last six games, prompting Keefe to stress the importance of improvement, particularly on the penalty kill and power play.
Looking ahead, the Leafs will face the Los Angeles Kings, hoping to bounce back from their recent setbacks. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will travel to New York to take on the Rangers, riding the momentum of their three-game winning streak.