Leafs getting stuck in neutral

TORONTO — Call it the neutral zone trap, clogging, blanketing, or checking — whatever it’s called, it’s the Leafs biggest concern at the moment.

And if the Leafs don’t get the message — that they need to work harder in their own zone and beat that neutral zone approach — then it will only complicate the loss of Auston Matthews.

Toronto lost its first game without Matthews (shoulder injury) Monday night, but it was the third setback against a team whose game plan was to clog up the neutral zone and pressure the Leafs into turnovers.

When that happens, Toronto gives up too many shots, too many high quality scoring chances, and forces goalie Freddie Andersen into an almost impossible task of winning the game by himself.

The answers rest with obvious details such as enhanced leadership and minutes from John Tavares and Nazem Kadri.

An obvious reduction of the turnover numbers by the defence.

And overall, a challenge to work harder on game details, especially slow starts, and what has so far been a drop-off in intensity on home ice compared to the road, where the Leafs are a perfect 5-0.

And then there’s Mitch Marner. And how best to use him?

Marner clearly drives the team, and deserves every bit of credit out there for not only his playmaking skills, but the way he toughened himself over the summer in preparation for the inof crease in physical play he’ll see, because he means so much to the Leafs.

He has increased his muscle mass to the tune of almost 10 extra pounds of body weight, a significant feat for an athlete who might be considered a “hard gainer” in terms of building muscle (check out, online, his impressive dead lifts on a Hex Bar, under the guidance of strength coach Dan Noble).

Monday night, without Matthews, Leafs coach Mike Babcock adjusted his lines, reuniting Marner with Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau. That was an explosive move from last February, which saw Kadri’s points take off, and Marner finish with a 90-plus points pace over the final 37 games of the season.

That left Tavares — who had Marner on his line to start the season — working with regular winger Zach Hyman, and newly promoted winger Kasperi Kapanen.

The bottom two lines were also shuffled, which sparked reactionary talk after what was an unacceptable start in the 3-1 loss against Calgary.

The discussion was based on the necessity to reshuffle all four lines, due to the loss of one player (Matthews). That is just talk, but the real issue — moving forward without Matthews — will centre on keeping Marner as the driving force behind the team.

There’s a list of other details, but Marner — as important as he is to the team — may become even more important with Matthews out.

With the day off Tuesday, and a practice in advance of Thursday’s game against Dallas, Marner, Tavares, Kadri, and the rest the Leafs will be tidying up their effort against Calgary.

One glaring detail was giveaways: Monday saw the Leafs commit a season-high 26 giveaways. Sixteen of those came from defencemen.

Part of the problem appears to be not enough communication about incoming checkers; as a result, the breakout is taking a shade too long to develop, which leads to giveaways and opposition transition. In short, the defence has to move the puck better and quicker.

Another detail is poor starts against neutral zone pest teams. Calgary outshot Toronto 15-4 in the first period Monday, and kept them off the scoresheet. In seven home games this season, Toronto has managed a league-fewest three goals in the first period.

“Their gaps were great — right on top of our guys coming through the neutral zone — just seemed like a pain in the (behind) every time,” Kadri said, referring to the Flames, who sent two forecheckers in to pressure the Leafs in their own zone, allowing the Calgary defence to move up into the neutral zone to force turnovers.

“They made it tough on us and certainly congested the neutral zone area. That was the difference.”

The Leafs believe they can manage that kind of pressure, and they’ve done it against other teams this season. The final detail will come down to doing it consistently. And that comes down to working harder to get the puck moving a step ahead of the checking.

As Babcock warned, “the game is frustrating when the other team works harder than you do.”