Improved defence is a credit to Keefe
Attention to details in own zone will be paramount in playoffs
Ever since he was introduced as the Maple Leafs head coach in November 2019, Sheldon Keefe has sought to improve his club’s defensive play in all three zones, while keeping pace with the organization’s goal to control the puck as much as possible.
Fifteen months later, Keefe is seeing solid returns. His team remains one of the more feared offensive outfits in the NHL, and it has bought into the defence-in-all-three-zones concept. Those factors have helped the Leafs to a league-leading 17 wins this season, creating a comfortable cushion in the North Division.
Since Keefe’s hiring, the Leafs have compiled 44 wins, second the NHL over that span, 95 points (third) and a .679 points percentage (fourth).
Some other accomplishments since he took over:
The Leafs rank first in goals per game (3.51) and expected goals per game (3.45).
They are second in the league in offensive zone possession per game (seven minutes, 23 seconds) and third in slot shot attempts per game (26.2).
Their goals against per game has improved from near 3.00 to 2.84, which is 11th in the league. They have dramatically cut down goals against per game off the cycle, rush and forecheck, areas where they ranked at or near the bottom of the league last season, and fourth in the league in offensive zone possession against per game (6:06).
They have one of the league’s top power plays and are sixth overall in five-on-five goals per game (2.27).
The team has had sustained success, in part, because of the confidence Keefe has shown in players. Defenceman Justin Holl and veteran forward Jason Spezza have been given opportunities they didn’t get under previous coach Mike Babcock, and blueliner Travis Dermott appears to be benefitting from Keefe’s patience. The team is getting contributions up and down the roster.
The Leafs opened the season with a 14-4-2 mark, one win shy of the best 20-game start in franchise history, and have won three straight since then, allowing just one goal with backups Michael Hutchinson and Jack Campbell. Auston Matthews had goals in eight straight games at one point, and points in 16 straight.
But Matthews, Keefe and everyone else with the Leafs will ultimately be rated on playoff success and it is the team’s attention to the defensive details that will be most important in the post-season.
The team’s forwards have been tracking the puck through the neutral zone and staying in the defensive zone longer in order to provide support and outlets for the defence. Four of the top five forwards — Matthews, Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman and William Nylander — have posted higher defensive zone times per game than last year. Only John Tavares has seen less defensive zone time.
For Keefe, the key will be to ensure those trends continue.
“We’re getting to the point here now where we’re proving that we’re a team that can defend well,” Keefe said. “It’s very good for our confidence as a group that we’re able to deal with different situations if we pull together and get big performances from different people.”