The fanbase—and the media—had this date circled on the calendar since last summer. The most anticipated game of the season. […]
The fanbase—and the media—had this date circled on the calendar since last summer. The most anticipated game of the season. Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto with his Vegas Golden Knights. The excitement and anticipation around town were sky-high. The atmosphere—and tension— in Scotiabank Arena Friday night as the opening face-off approached was playoff-like delirium.
The only people in the building, unfortunately, who didn’t get the memo were the Toronto Maple Leafs players themselves. One minute in, and the Golden Knights were up 1-0. Three and a half minutes later, it was 2-0. They were outshot 10-5 in the first period. The Leafs never quite recovered, losing Marner’s return 6-3.
Why did Maple Leafs come out flat against Marner & the Golden Knights?
So why did the home side not bring the intensity needed in such an obviously significant contest?
In the days leading up to the big game, Leafs players just didn’t seem anywhere near as juiced as the fans.
Auston Matthews: “I’ve had enough of the Mitch questions.” And leading up to the game on Friday: crickets. No media availability.
Translated: ‘It’s just another game.’
John Tavares: “You put the gear on, you got to go out there and play. So I’m sure there’ll be a lot of things that he’s feeling but … at the end of the day, both sides, once the puck drops, you’re trying to get in the flow of the game and compete.”
Translated: ‘It’s just another game.’
Morgan Rielly (the longest-serving Leaf): “Just another game,” Rielly said. “We played him once this year, and I’m sure he’ll have emotions coming back, but ultimately for us we’re just focusing on going out there and playing … it’s important points.”
No translation needed there. He said it himself.
Maybe next time the Leafs players tell us ‘It’s just another game,’ we should believe them. Because this was just another one of those ‘not showing up to start the game’ efforts that we’ve seen time and time again during this era of the team.
Berube not happy with effort, but must shoulder some of the blame
Head coach Craig Berube would have been scratching his head about his team’s effort, if not for the mysterious, huge, nasty gash on his scalp (said to be a ‘mishap at the gym’).
They were on their toes, and we weren’t. We got behind the 8-ball pretty early… The standard has to be better and higher. We’re at home. We’re not playing consistently enough and with the urgency that is needed.
To be sure, Berube and the coaching staff aren’t totally without blame here. They made the puzzling decision to start a rusty Anthony Stolarz between the pipes—his first appearance in a hockey game that counts in two and a half months. An odd choice for such a noteworthy occasion.
Overall, we can just add this one to the long list of perplexing, disappointing nights for the Blue & White.
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