“Not being able to generate enough”: Ex-Maple Leafs HC Sheldon Keefe reveals ‘big reason’ behind Toronto’s Game 7 loss 

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Dec 11, 2024 02:48 GMT

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe recently spoke to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel where he talked about the issues that held the club back during last Spring’s playoffs.

In particular, Keefe pointed out the main reason for their postseason loss:

“Not begin able to generate enough [goals]. That’s the big reason why we lost.”

The perception has been that the Maple Leafs were unable to defend well enough. However, Keefe was adamant about the fact that the Leafs did not face defensive issues. It was the offense, rather, that dried up.

Furthermore, the numbers seem to back up that notion. The Leafs were ranked last among playoff squads last year with a 1.71 goals-per-game average. That was down significantly from their second-best total of 3.63 during the regular season.

Keefe went on to expound on how the Leafs had multiple chances to close out the series before reaching a Game 7. However, they failed to do so. Most notably, the 2021 first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens and last season’s series against the Boston Bruins stand out among other playoff failures.

This season, the Leafs have transformed themselves into a more defense-first team. Whether that approach under new coach Craig Berube can translate into playoff success remains to be seen.

Sheldon Keefe thriving with New Jersey Devils

After last Spring’s first-round exit, the Toronto Maple Leafs felt a change was needed. So, the club subsequently fired Sheldon Keefe despite signing him to a contract extension earlier in the season.

Keefe wasn’t out of work long, however, promptly taking on the role of head coach with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils had a disappointing season in 2023-24, missing the playoffs after making it to the second round the year before.

With Keefe at the helm, it seems the Devils are back to where experts believed they would be last season. They are second in the Metro Division with 38 points, two off the division lead.

Moreover, the Devils were 7-3-0 entering Tuesday night’s action. The club has also shown it can play well at both ends of the ice, boasting a +24 goal differential. That differential ranks the Devils second in the Eastern Conference.

However, they cannot afford to let their guard down. The third-place Carolina Hurricanes are three points back, with two games in hand. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers are in fourth place but could go on a run at any time, potentially closing the gap.

While the postseason is still months away, the Devils are gradually turning into one of the most dangerous teams this season. With Sheldon Keefe behind the bench, it seems the Devils are poised to make a long playoff run this postseason.