Well the Leafs went into Minnesota and knew that they needed to play a solid Defensive game to beat the best defensive team in the league. It Didn’t happen giving up 5 goals to one of the worst offensive teams in the league.

Both had a three game losing streak going and thanks to the new rules one was promised a victory .

So why do the Wild play such a Great Defensive game? What do they do so great?
The Wild shut down the neutral zone. Just Completely shut it down. This didn’t allow the Leafs to build up speed and cut the amount of odd man rushes. They also played all their skaters in the Neutral zone. Sometimes bring up one forechecker.

How do you beat this? Well your first pass has to be perfect. It has to be right on the money in a position to draw defenders to this player and open up and oncoming winger , Which the Leafs rarely did. Kyle Wellwood Probably was the best at this.. It also forced the defenseman to be perfect with the puck if not it would lead to plenty of turnovers. Several quick unselfish passes and then you would have a series of chances downlow. You must outwork them downlow.

Turnovers were probably the downfall of the Leafs last night. Anytime you give up Five Goals to the Minnesota Wild you are in Trouble.

Quinn Benched O’Niell for the third period because of a stupid penalty and then a UN sportsmen like conduct . O’niell is nowhere to be found . He scared away from the net several times and quinn finally noticed it. Please Scratch Him. You need to get him Fired up.

The Leafs lost Defenseman Alexander Khavanov to what is being called an “upper body Injury.” Add him to the long list of Injuries that have plagued the Leafs.
I expect Pohl will be up soon or at least he deserves a call up and maybe O’niell as a healthy scratch soon.

Hotest Leaf is Jason Allison who now has a Three game Goal scoring streak. This happens in the midst of Trade rumors.

The season could be on the line in the next couple of games with two games in a row against the Juggernaut that is The Ottawa Senators. Two straight times the leafs have Given up Eight goals to the Sens and that was With McCabe .

Now we will see what this team is made of. Its going to take heart to win in Ottawa and a sweep would get this team going but two losses could be the end of the season.