PHILADELPHIA — The Toronto Maple Leafs surrendered their opening goal on the very first shot in the game. And it ended up being a precursor to how the game finished.
The Leafs fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Tuesday. Despite bringing a three-goal deficit down to one goal, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe decried his team's lack of execution from the beginning.
"We just didn't play well enough on our half of the ice with or without the puck," Keefe said after the game. "We weren't sharp mentally. Couldn't pass the puck, couldn't handle the puck Didn't defend. Didn't compete. So not a lot to like.
The Flyers dominated the opening 20 minutes and had five high-danger scoring chances compared to two from the Leafs at 5-on-5 according to NaturalStatTrick.com
Perhaps Toronto deserved a better fate as the club hit a total of six posts. But that wasn't enough to satisfy Keefe, who also put some of the blame on himself.
"But it could have been a lot worse in the first period at the same time," Keefe said. "So you can't play catch-up hockey on the road and expect to win. So we weren't ready to go. That's on me to start the game in the first period and dig yourselves a hole. It's amazing when you do that, how all of a sudden luck doesn't go your way."
There were some positives in the game.
William Nylander scored on the power play to finally ignite a unit that was 1-for-24 going into it and John Tavares had a three-point for his highest offensive output since Nov. 17 against the Detroit Red Wings in Stockholm, Sweden.
Despite that, Keefe found little silver linings in the contest.
"I didn't like anybody tonight," he said. "Forward, defense, goaltending. didn't like anybody."
The Leafs ran the risk of having these types of games when there isn't much room to go up or down in their current playoff position.
Philly needed the points, but that wasn't enough for Keefe.
"I don't think it was having to do with urgency necessarily. We just clearly weren't sharp, especially on our half of the ice. So we weren't willing to do the things necessary tonight from the start of the game."
Ryan Reaves sustained an injury following a fight with Flyers forward Nicolas Deslaurier. Keefe had no update on the forward as they prepare to play against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
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