Three takeaways from Sheldon Keefes first win as Toronto Map

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That's more like it.
couldn't have gone any better as Toronto cruised to a much-needed 3-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes Clint Boling Jersey in Glendale, Ariz.,Thursday night.
All eyes were on Keefe's lineup decisions as the Leafs headed into Thursday's game mired in a six-game losing streak that , and the players responded. Tyson Barrie, Pierre Engvall and Auston Matthews each scoredgoals as the free-flowing Leafs outshot the home team 32-31.
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Perhaps most impre sive was the way the Leafs protected the puck, allowing just four giveaways overthe course of the game (the Coyotes had 13). Carele s play while in po se sion was a hallmark of the Leafs' struggles in recent weeks, so the team's ability to hold onto the puck while also succe sfully killing off all three penalties on the night was a step in the right direction.
Toronto improved Tyler Boyd Jersey to 10-10-4 on the season with the victory.
Here are three takeaways from Thursday's game.
Keefe's LeafsIt was apparent from the morning skate that the new bench bo s would be changing things up a bit, as Keefe implemented several changes ahead of Thursday's contest.
At game time, there were some notable differences in the Leafs' lineup from Mike Babcock's final game in charge.Ilya Mikheyev joinedthe top line alongside John Tavares and Zach Hyman, Tyson Barriestarted alongside Morgan Rielly on the blue line, Jason Spezza moved up to the third line,Pierre Engvall madehis NHL debutandNick Shore Tyler Kroft Jersey satafter playing in18 straight games.
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Here's how the Leafs line up tonight.Presented by .
Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) The players seemed to immediately respond to the new-look lineup, coming out of the gates with much more of a jump than had been seenin weeks. And with Barrie's first-period opener, the team held an advantage on the scoreboard for the first time in nearly 450 minutes of action.
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">This is the first lead in 446:47 of action
Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) Barrie, the bomber?Speaking of Tyson Barrie, the defenseman's goal was his first in a Toronto uniform, and it couldn'thave come any sooner.
The 28-year-old's struggles with the Babcock-led Maple Leafs have been well-documented, with Barrie telling the media earlier this month that . While Barrie never placed his woes on Babcock, the former Colorado Avalanche standout's time as an offensive catalyst diminished during the 23 games that the now-fired coach was in charge this season.
With Keefe taking the reins, Barrie was immediately given Kevin Huber Jersey more offensive responsibility, including a move to the top power play unit.
His first Leaf goal came at even-strength, but it may not be a coincidence that Keefe's vote of confidence in Barrie's abilities allowed the beleaguered blueliner to get a goal in hisfirst opportunity under the new bo s.
Familiarity breeds succe sWhile the coach was making his NHL debut on Thursday,Pierre Engvall was stepping into his second game in the big leagues.
Engvall's maiden contestwas on Tuesday under Babcock, whenhe played 14 shifts for 9:27 of ice time butdidn't have much of an impact. It'sto be expected for a young, non-superstar player making his debut well into the season you take what you can get and just hope to feel things out quickly.
Babcock's exit meantEngvall fortuitously Russell Bodine Jersey skipped over the "getting to know you" phase with his coach as Keefe was already intimately familiar with what the 23-year-old could do thanks to their time together withthe Marlies.
That familiarity became apparent in the second period when Engvall was deployed on the penalty kill after William Nylander was sent to the box for high-sticking. Engvall's speed in transition is something that Keefe hadused strategically in the AHL, and his gamble to do so on the PKat the NHL level paid immediate dividends as the Swede collected the puck at the Leafs' blue line and Carlos Dunlap Jersey left the Coyotes players in his wake en route to hisfirst-ever NHL tally a shorthanded goalto boot.
Engvall's finish was worthy of the big leagues, but he mightneed to put in some work on his celebrations.
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John Short, Jr