It is often said that defenses win championships. Clearly, several teams in the NHL have not grasped this principle, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
They can score a lot of goals but are unable to prevent the other team from scoring. In fact, at five-on-five, this team is quite ordinary, but it is formidable on the power play.
On Friday night, they reached a new low in mediocrity. It's the 8th consecutive home game where they've allowed four or more goals to start a season, a first in their history.
The defense and goalies in Toronto are clearly not getting the job done, but it's also the collective effort that leaves much to be desired. Everything is geared towards the attack. With a record of 7-5-2, it's not catastrophic, but the team will have to make corrections because it will catch up with them sooner or later.
The Canadiens may not have the offensive punch that the Leafs have, but they are building through defense, with high-quality prospects. Time will tell if the Canadiens have employed a better strategy to build their team.
