The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled defensively this year, allowing an average of 4 goals per game in their home matches. Their bottom 6 players have only contributed a total of 3 goals, and out of those, only 2 players have scored.
Relying heavily on high-paid stars for both salary and scoring is a risky strategy. The key to defeating the Leafs lies in shutting down their offensive prowess - if you can prevent them from scoring, you have a good chance of winning. However, if they manage to get on the scoreboard, they are a tough team to beat.
Surprisingly, even star players like Matthews and Marner have struggled defensively this season, with both having a negative plus-minus rating. Although Nylander has been productive overall, his performance at 5 on 5 has been even. The Leafs' team defense remains an enigma, and opponents should exploit this weakness.