The Toronto Maple Leafs have played a whopping four games and there’s one question on the back of every fan’s mind: is their defence good enough?
Through four games the Leafs have allowed 16 goals — the sixth most in the league and second most among teams who haven’t played their fifth game yet — but the negative impact has been largely offset by the team’s stellar offence.
Whether a team has a good offence with a bad defence or vice versa, the point is moot pending one key factor: is the team winning?
“You worry about that defence and the fact that it needs to stand up to give your offence enough chances to win the game, to score those goals and put you out in front,” said Craig Battle, on The Sportsnet Hotstove Saturday. “I think that the underlying numbers for this team so far have me completely convinced that they are doing just fine.”
Still, the season is just four games young and the one thing we know for certain is that October hockey is much different than March or April hockey.
“It’s the start of the season,” said Mark Boffo. “Teams are a bit more loose.”
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