Much work ahead for Maple Leafs after first loss of season

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From first line inconsistencies to fourth line injuries, the Maple Leafs' season has gotten off to an uneven start.

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Although Toronto survived its season opener against Montreal, a 6-3 loss to Detroit on Saturday (with the final score inflated by two empty-net goals) showed that some training camp issues are still unresolved. Our conclusions:

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GET TOGETHER

Coach Craig Berube usually gets his chemistry experiments right, but Scott Laughton's preseason loss continues to take its toll.

Matthias Maccelli still wants to fit in Auston Matthews and Matthew Nice, or indeed any line, was complicated Saturday by Steven Lorenz's apparent head injury, which led to more juggling through the anterior chains. Lorenz will be re-evaluated on Sunday, Berube told reporters in Detroit.

Maccelli, who might have been better off starting in the planned third line with Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua before the misadventure in Lawton on Saturday he had had no injections or attempts.

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“The more reps we get, the more game situations we get, the more comfortable we'll get together,” Matthews insisted on his line Friday.

Matthews had six goals against the Wings, plus a loud miss off the crossbar, and scored one into an empty net. Leaf's power play, repeating last year's struggles, is not helping him.

We were curious to see how William Nylander would look at that top right wing at 5-on-5, which would be the ultimate Plan B if all other attempts to replace Mitch Marner failed, but Saturday's sample size was too small.

There was some sloppy play that kept the puck in the Toronto zone for too long.

The good news is that Max Domi, the original listener on the right side of the first line, does a great job with his transition to the center and almost reached the goal to level the score.

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“Most of it is in your head,” Berube said before his team's game against Detroit about what doesn't work at 5-on-5 across the board. “The second is execution. We need to play harder in critical situations. I'm not talking about putting the puck on someone's tape, it's about getting it out of our zone, getting it deep.”

EASTON STANDARD TIME

Either because of Lorenz's injury or a desire to change things up, Berube will start forward Easton Cowan on Monday afternoon in a rematch at Scotiabank Arena against Detroit in his National Hockey League debut.

The friendly atmosphere of a home game with many family and friends in attendance should help Cowen overcome any nerves, although there is some pressure on the top London prospect now with the whole squad having something to show for it after being outplayed by the Wings.

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Where Cowan will fit in on Monday is also intriguing considering Calle Jarnkrok has scored in back-to-back games, replacing Cowan on the fourth line after Laughton and then Lorenz dropped out.

At this rate, Jarnkrok, who scored one goal last season, will reach his career high of 20 goals with the Leafs in 2022-23. However, he did not recover from the cold in camp until Laughton was injured and a new fourth line was formed with Nicholas Roy (two points on Saturday) at center.

GIVE AND TAKE

Berube was rightfully concerned that some of his players were standing and watching in their own zone, which led to the Wings putting pressure on Toronto for goals.

What further underscores this in two games is that the Leafs have reached double digits in hands with meager takeaways to counter it.

Even the reliable Anthony Stolarz was guilty of a blind pass behind the net that was nearly converted by the Wings, although he still made 20 saves before the game was half over to keep his team in it.

Toronto is currently playing five straight home games, as well as several full practices, which Berube must use to streamline Toronto's generosity with pucks.

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