Maple Leafs Lose Key Forward, Game against Division Rival

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The Toronto Maple Leafs lost more than the game on Saturday night against the Red Wings, as injury claimed another key forward.

The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped an embarrassing 6-3 loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. The Leafs led the game 2-0 after 20 minutes. But a disastrous second period flipped the score.

The Maple Leafs were down 3-2 heading into the third period, but briefly managed to tie the game on a Max Domi goal. Minutes later, the Red Wings scored with the man advantage and didn’t look back.

The team that played a solid all-around game against Montreal on Thursday night was nowhere to be found in the final 40 minutes of Saturday night’s showdown in Detroit.

But to add injury to the insult, the Maple Leafs lost forward Steven Lorentz early in the game. Lorentz left the game late in the first period following this hit from Red Wings forward Ben Chiarot.

Here’s a look at the hit:

The hit apparently affected Lorentz’s shoulder. He quickly skated off the ice and did not return to the game. Lorentz hit the ice for three shifts in the game, totaling 1:17.

Lorentz had played well as part of a solid Maple Leafs’ fourth line. Nic Roy and Calle Jarnkrok scored both Leafs’ goals in the first period. The line had been consistent throughout the first four periods of the season.

However, Lorentz’s departure led to line shuffling on Craig Berube’s part, ultimately affecting the way the Maple Leafs attacked in the second and third periods.

Maple Leafs’ Line Shuffling Didn’t Work against Red Wings

Lorentz’s departure forced the Maple Leafs to get creative with their lines. In one instance, Berube placed William Nylander on the line with Roy and Jarnkrok. By the end of the night, Nylander was on the top unit with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

The ineffective line-shuffling was evident in the second period. The momentum the Maple Leafs had gained in the first period was pretty much absent in the middle frame. That situation allowed the Red Wings to grind the Leafs down, eventually taking the lead.

While the third period saw a more consistent attack from Toronto, the Red Wings managed to control much of the pace throughout the period. The final minutes, in which Toronto pulled the goalie, looked disorganized. The Leafs surrendered two empty-netters to fall behind by three goals.

Lorentz Still under Evaluation following Game

Following the game, Craig Berube stated that Lorentz was still under evaluation. Lorentz will undergo further testing on Sunday to determine the extent of his injury.

The Maple Leafs’ next game is on Monday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena. So, there might be word on the extent of Lorentz’s injury on Sunday and potentially an estimate on how long he might be out.

The Leafs are already down Scott Laughton, who sustained a lower-body injury blocking a shot during a preseason game. Waiver claim Sammy Blais or rookie Easton Cowan could take over Lorentz’s lineup spot in his absence.

The Maple Leafs moved up Monday’s affair with the Red Wings to accommodate the Toronto Blue Jays’ game against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night as part of the MLB playoffs.

Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan