Maple Leafs’ Penalty Kill Has Elevated to New Heights

The Maple Leafs are much quicker not just with their feet, but with their sticks and ability to converge quickly and negate any potential play from unfolding. They’re doing so without getting caught, showing more poise and patience to execute a play with great one-on-one coverage and taking away any possible outlets. They’re not cheating or even straying away and getting caught out of position like we have seen in the past. 

Even when things get tough, they’re quick to the puck first and making sure it clears the zone and down the ice. They’re aggressive, but they don’t put themselves in vulnerable spots. The way they pressure, attack and get secondary help really helps by keeping the play to the outside and not allow any dangerous plays from unfolding.

Despite the five-on-five defense needing to be better, having a strong penalty kill has really helped limit the goals against in the first month.

Defense to Offense

While the Maple Leafs can shut things down when being down a man, they can also transition and get their looks offensively as well when the opportunity presents itself. Their ability to quickly spot break out options and create rush opportunities has become a part of their identity on the penalty kill.

While there’s going to be a discrepancy in shots for and against, the Maple Leafs do have 11 shots for on the penalty kill, which is sixth in the league per Natural Stat Trick. Not only that, they already have a short-handed goal thanks to Cowan against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

After Cowan converges and gets in between two Blue Jackets players, he forces Sean Monahan to turn the puck over. As the puck gets to an open area, Oliver Ekman-Larsson quickly regains possession and makes a crisp and accurate breakout pass to spot a streaking Cowan at the offensive blue line. He quickly walks in and wires it past Jett Greaves to make it 4-1. 

Plays and details like that are going to be reasons why the Maple Leafs penalty kill is going to be a real threat in the league this season. The smart reads, decision making and ability to pounce and create scoring chances will make them dangerous in any situation.

This is just another area where the Maple Leafs have excelled in and will be a reason why they can get meaningful points.

Statistics from NHL and Natural Stat Trick.