Far from their best perfromance and in a way fortunate to get away with a win. Worst defensive effort in a while. Lots of players are looking a little drained and whole team looked fragmented at times. Great they can pick up some wins when they aren't at their best.
Good
Garland - very much a key to the win. Showing an increased ability to score lately. Some of his goals, especially like the one at the end of the second show a determination that typifes his play. Never a game lately when he isn't a three star candidate. Makes the Ekman- Larsen trade easier to stomach
Hoglander - outstanding early on and maybe should have got more time throughout the rest of the game. Line was good and Aman had one of his better offensive efforts.
Zadorov - thought he was overall thier best defenseman. You can see the amplitude in his play. Could be dominate if he had a little more intensity when you see his play in this game. You wonder if he could ever move himself up into that top echolon of NHL players. All the physical talent appears there. There didn't seem a time in this game when he was beat wide or anywhere else in the defensive zone and he moved the play back up ice when the team was faltering..
Hughes - top end offensive play and another 3 points. There were times when he gave up position around the net and neither him not Hronek had a great game defensively. Still he was very much a positive. Would say the late call on Hughes was a joke and total dive by Traveres
Cole - very steady in a game that looked like it might get out of control. Some critical plays around his net and very good when under pressure. Really complements Zadorov well.
Joshua - another strong effort. Earlier you wondered if he was just having a good stretch and felt he probably revert to being just OK. However, he's played so well for so long you have to accept he is this good. To me, he is a more valuable player than someone like Boeser and is way better than someone like Mikheyev
Blueger - couldn't win a face off late (beaten cleanly) but neither could anyone else. But his work on the PK was extremely important.
Not so good
Myers - looked both mentally and physically fatiqued. Really a continuation of the last game when you could see the workload was beginning to catch up with him. Wasn't moving the puck out of his zone well and was back on his heels defensively. Lots of erractic play around his net and where he was not getting any pressure on the puck or covering up around his net. Lots of awkwardness in his game which indicated he is wearing down. That late penalty was idiotic and could well have resulted in putting his team two (or I guess you could say 3) men down.
Soucy - maybe his worst game of the season. Lack of foot speed showed in this game and he was consistently forced back on defense. Minutes were greatly reduced and you wonder if the ankle was acting up. You wonder if Juulsen might draw back in.
Mikeyev - showing board for hands around the net. Neither him nor Suter had much going on in this game. Looks like a bad contract at the moment.
Suter - looked slow mostly and couldn't get into the play offensively. Needed to cover back for others and that was n't happening much. His line is consistently the worst on the team and was tonite
Others
Boeser - mostly baggage going both ways. Gifted some chances but shooting was poor. PLayer lacks stamina b/c he has to work harder to make up for poor skating. Can see him being Traveres like in the future. Traveres has never been a great skater and like others, who are not upper end skaters, he has fallen away faster than those who can skate - that is why you should not sign Boeser long term.
Kuzmenko - showed a little more. Still way too much static play where he looks like a spectator. Has to move better off the puck and keep moving so he can transition better to defense and not be caught flat-footer.
Miller - picked it up in the third and helped push the team to a win. However, looked bagged through much of the game. Neither him of Pettersson were near their best and the lotto line got badly outplayed through much of the game and could get little done 5 on 5. Noticed the line got broken up at the end of second and Pettersson put back at center. But that line had a tough shift and was quickly abandoned.
Still irks me that we had to play to Toronto's liking. Of all the disadvantages we have in travel and going through different time zones, you figure the one advantage we have is that Eastern teams have to play later than usual. Not so with the Maple Leafs. Seems like we are all equal Canadians until it comes to Toronto.
That was good time out by Tocchet. Also he managed to rouse the team to a pretty good third period.