The next three home games for the Toronto Maple Leafs will be quite the doozy for the fanbase. One asks, why? They face three teams with less points than the Maple Leafs: the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and the San Jose Sharks, in that order.
This also gives the Maple Leafs a chance to pick up at least four out of six crucial points in the run to the quarter mark of the season, when the league will take a fresh look at the teams. In this instance, however, the teams they play will test head coach Jim Hiller’s wits.
A Look At The Maple Leafs’ Next Three Home Games
Here’s Hiller on Gavin McKenna earning power-play opportunities and additional shifts on the first line:
“He’s playing good. You know what I mean? We’re not just giving that to him. He’s earned that. You can see down the road where this is going to go with him. But for now, at that young age, if he’s earned it, we’re going to give him a crack to do that. It doesn’t mean he’ll start there every night, but when he’s playing well and he’s on, then he’s going to get those shifts.”
He may juggle lines again to keep his priorities intact, or stick with the same game plan he’s been using to pick up points. Like any other coach, he should be focused on winning, and fans should expect a combination of lines against the Islanders, then try them again against the Sabers.
The next three home games should also test the Maple Leafs. Who will be in for a battle against these teams, even though their records don’t match the Leafs’? The Maple Leafs’ captain, the forwards on the top-three lines, and the fourth line that created a turnover and scored in the offensive zone will be key.
What Analysts Are Saying About The Maple Leafs’ Next Three Home Games
This caught analysts by surprise, as they didn’t have faith in this squad or were skeptical about the Leafs’ future. But the critical question is how the team will win games, and whether they can do it while staying healthy. Another factor is how well they can play other Eastern Conference teams, especially in the Atlantic Division.
Based on what we’ve seen, this team is poised to break out this stretch and get four or five of six points before a road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sharks will be the real test for the Leafs, but getting the first four points will be an ever-so important task for the Buds.
Looking at the next three games, fans might think they are easy, but anything can happen in the NHL, and the stakes have never been higher for this Maple Leafs squad. Suppose they manage to pull out two victories in three contests. The team will be on a roll, proving the critics wrong and making a strong push to the end of the season.
An interesting aspect to watch for the Maple Leafs will be who scores and how much they produce at home over the next three home games.
Looking at the defense, and whether the Maple Leafs make any moves in that area to secure the team’s future early on, provided it is beneficial to jump the gun at this point. Who would they want to acquire or need in this situation? The question is how hard the scouts are working to make this happen: is there a deal in the works, or is the Maple Leafs GM taking his time to pull the trigger?
Time will tell.
Main Image: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
