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Leafs-Capitals takeaways: Unforced errors doom Leafs, Tanev, Tavares are bright spots in loss
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Arun Srinivasan
Dec 7, 2024, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 6, 2024, 22:40 EST
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All good things must come to an end and that applies to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ winning streak. It was a low-event game and the Washington Capitals emerged with a 3-1 victory at Scotiabank Arena.
Nic Dowd opened the scoring by tipping home Matt Roy’s point shot, John Tavares equalized after receiving a gorgeous long-range pass from Chris Tanev, but there was some bad luck involved too. Auston Matthews’ pass in the defensive zone hit referee Corey Syvret in the skates and the puck ricocheted into Anthony Stolarz’s crease during the third period. Stolarz tried to clear the puck but Connor McMichael jammed it home for what stood as the game-winner, then Aliaksei Protas added an empty-netter for the 3-1 result.
“He was excellent, gave us a chance to win,” Berube said of Stolarz post-game.
Here are five quick takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ loss to the Capitals:
  • Nick Robertson struggled throughout the contest and it’s unclear what his role may be when Max Pacioretty and others return to the lineup. Robertson and Fraser Minten had a communication breakdown on Nic Dowd’s opening goal, as neither player closed out on Matt Roy, Minten was caught in no man’s land as Dowd expertly tipped home Roy’s shot. During an exciting 2-on-1 with John Tavares in the second period, Robertson went offsides for no reason, then took a careless penalty on the next sequence. Robertson, Minten and Steven Lorentz were outshot 3-1 at 5-on-5, and it was a diametric difference from Wednesday’s game, where the on-ice communication and chance creation were stellar. Robertson is still stuck on two goals on the season, and may need a change of scenery.
  • We don’t want to pick on Nikita Grebenkin, but this was arguably the least impactful game by any single Maple Leaf this season. Toronto was out-chanced 11-0, and outshot 3-0 when he was on the ice at 5-on-5, his line, featuring Connor Dewar and Ryan Reaves didn’t register a single shot, and he didn’t land a single hit either. Grebenkin may be coming out of the lineup for Max Pacioretty on Saturday and his stint with the Maple Leafs certainly had some positive moments, but he didn’t contribute whatsoever Friday.
  • Chris Tanev and John Tavares were among the lone bright spots for the Maple Leafs but neither player wanted to hear it post-game. “Who cares? We lost,” Tanev said post-game when asked about his long-range bullet pass that found Tavares on a breakaway for Toronto’s lone goal. If this is what accountability looks like, we’re all the way here for it. It was a one-off night for the Maple Leafs in many respects, but Tanev and Tavares continue to be among the constants.
  • This assessment may be slightly unfair to William Nylander, who was constantly looking to create through the opening forty minutes. Nylander had two breakaways during the game, the first of which he appeared to be hooked, and should’ve have earned a penalty shot. The second breakaway, Nylander went wide of the net, and one has to wonder how different the result would’ve looked if Nylander converted on either chance. This was an off night for Nylander, and yet you could make an argument that he was Toronto’s second-best forward after Tavares on the evening.
  • There aren’t any grand conclusions to be made after a loss to a stellar Capitals team. Stolarz played well, it was a rare off night for Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews and you won’t win many games against any NHL team when you commit over 20 turnovers as a team. Toronto will need to have a short memory as it travels to face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

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