The Maple Leafs’ 7–2 Win Over Oilers Was About More Than

There’s something satisfying about beating the Edmonton Oilers 7–2, especially in Edmonton, where the building was rocking, and both teams had plenty of emotion invested in the game. But I think the interesting part of this Maple Leafs win goes beyond the seven goals. Toronto didn’t necessarily own every part of the game. Edmonton had its share of quality chances and spent plenty of time in the offensive zone. Yet when the game needed to be decided, the Maple Leafs found ways to do it. That’s worth paying attention to.

Fans know that the Maple Leafs have some elite talent.

We know what Toronto’s biggest names can do. The question has been whether the players around them can provide enough support when the stars aren’t carrying the whole load. A team can have all the high-end talent in the world, but if the other guys are simply along for the ride, things can get difficult over an 82-game season.

That’s where this recent stretch gets interesting. Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Troy Stecher, Zack MacEwen, Vinni Lettieri, and others are beginning to make their presence felt. They don’t all have to score every night. Sometimes it’s a timely goal, a responsible shift, a useful defensive play, or simply giving a coach another line he can trust.

A coach’s trust is one of the biggest tipping points in NHL hockey.

I’ve always thought that’s one of the quieter ingredients in a good hockey team. When players understand their roles and feel they can contribute, the pressure doesn’t fall quite so heavily on the biggest names. It also gives a coach more options when a game takes an unexpected turn.

Of course, one 7–2 win doesn’t answer every question about the Maple Leafs. We’ve seen teams look terrific for a stretch and then discover how hard it is to keep it up. Toronto still has to show it can bring this kind of effort and contribution into tighter games, too.

But after the loss to the New York Islanders raised questions about the team’s identity, four straight wins tell us something is moving in a better direction.

The Maple Leafs may have more ways to win than we thought.

The Oilers game didn’t prove the Maple Leafs have everything figured out. It reminded fans they may have more ways to win than we sometimes give them credit for. And if the supporting cast keeps showing up, that could matter a lot more than one big night on the scoreboard.