Maple Leafs blow lead in Anaheim, strain mounts

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ANAHEIM — These boos ringing within the ears of the Maple Leafs don’t have anything to do with Halloween.

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However this steady sluggish begin may hang-out coach Sheldon Keefe and basic supervisor Kyle Dubas because the workforce limps residence on a four-game dropping streak. It was capped by a 4-3 time beyond regulation defeat to the Anaheim Geese, who had not gained in seven straight, a match Toronto led all Sunday night time and  3-1 at one stage with a penalty shot to increase it.

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Add that to being unable to get victories in opposition to Arizona, Montreal and on this journey, San Jose or Los Angeles and there may be additional doubt forged on this new-look roster Dubas constructed.

Trevor Zegras beat Erik Kallgren hallfway by way of the additional interval after Mitch Marner was stopped on the doorstep. What would’ve been Anaheim’s go-ahead aim in regulation was waved off for goaltender interference.

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Requirements for Toronto have actually slipped when enjoying a 1-6-1 workforce might be labelled ‘must-win,’ however the outcome didn’t take warmth off Keefe and Dubas.

They have been having hassle discovering the scoring tempo of final season and integrating new members, although two of these, Denis Malgin and Calle Jarnkrok, scored Sunday.

The Leafs simply couldn’t let sustained effort elapse with out some type of self-inflicted wound. One was dedicated by Filip Kral, in his second recreation and looking out excellent till he tried to place a go by way of Derek Grant at centre simply as the center interval ended.

It required Kallgren to make a breakaway save and Auston Matthews to take a slashing name, his third minor in two video games after 74 minutes the earlier 415 video games.

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The Leafs did flip that into their first short-handed aim of the 12 months, a TJ Brodie stretch go that Alex Kerfoot and Jarnkrok transformed.

Within the third interval, Kerfoot had a breakaway hampered sufficient to warrant a penalty shot, however discovered no room on John Gibson as he got here in too tight and shot broad.

Moments later, Zegras didn’t miss on Kallgren because the Leafs went with their No. 2 goalie after Ilya Samsonov performed a mistake-filled recreation by his mates in Los Angeles.

Anaheim tied it with defenceman Dmitry Kulikov poked the puck previous John Tavares, circled the online and beat Kallgren on the wraparound.

Keefe re-arranged the ahead strains in his ongoing makes an attempt to seek out the identical chemistry as final season, whereas incorporating 4 new forwards. The Leafs had simply six objectives within the three losses on the journey.

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After a few own-zone fumbles, the Leafs discovered their legs on their first energy play. William Nylander and Marner arrange Matthews for a fast flick at 4:23, giving him two objectives on the journey.

The revamped second line of Kerfoot, Tavares and Jarnkrok thought it had scored quickly after, Kerfoot half elevating his stick, however the puck skittered broad of an empty internet. As Kerfoot seemed skyward, Anaheim cashed on the different finish. Mark Giordano was the primary Leaf to overlook an opportunity to clear and finally different flat-footed mates misplaced monitor of Jakob Silfverberg within the open.

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Toronto regained the lead earlier than the interval ended, thanks to a different advert hoc line, Nick Robertson and Nylander establishing Malgin. It has been an eventful season for the Swiss winger already, a terrific camp, a spot among the many top-six forwards, then usurped by Robertson and banished to the press field a couple of video games.

Malgin moved throughout to the correct aspect on Sunday with Nylander shifted to centre and with all three exhibiting good wheels, he was unfastened for a nifty backhand deke.

Gibson stopped Tavares on the doorstep and stacked the pads on Matthews’ rebound to maintain the sport at one. Gibson has suffered behind the Geese poor begin, seven consecutive losses after a gap night time win over Seattle.

“We didn’t get off to a terrific begin final 12 months, it’s not what we’re searching for this 12 months,” captain Tavares mentioned between the L.A. and Anaheim matches. “Each recreation we’ve had an opportunity to win. Have we performed to our capabilities but? I don’t imagine so.”