Toronto Maple Leafs recent struggles without forward Ryan O’Reilly
The regular season in the NHL is almost over, with only a handful of games left. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, recent struggles without a key forward, Ryan O’Reilly, make it even more difficult to establish a solid forward formation.
It is especially difficult when he will be coming back from injury to assert himself in the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
When O’Reilly hurt his hand off a shot from Auston Matthews in the offensive zone against the Vancouver Canucks, it was a tough blow because of the impact that it may have had on the Leafs’ preparation for the playoffs.
He is expected to be back before or during the start of the playoffs, and to say he will be ready to assert himself will be tricky. The reasons are that his game may not be where it should be because of the time he has spent out of the lineup.
Ryan O’Reilly has a special effect on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
The main reason is that he was supposed to get to know his teammates better by playing alongside them during the end of the regular season to be comfortable on-ice with his team.
Also, given that his absence thus far has been somewhat costly for the Maple Leafs, they have had their ups and downs as of late. Getting in the win column has been tricky, and there has not been enough production from key forwards. Notably, William Nylander has struggled as well.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a powerhouse to contend with, and I will reiterate that this team was destined to lose a few games in the final stretch of the season to work out the kinks that they may face in the playoffs.
With an imminent return to the lineup however, Ryan O’Reilly will be that key piece for the Toronto Maple Leafs to move forward in the playoffs and carry them over the hump of losing close games in nature.
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The playoffs are almost set in stone, and for the Toronto Maple Leaf fans, it is more exciting than ever.