Who are the unexpected defensive stars for the Maple Leafs?

Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have formed a surprisingly successful defensive pairing for the Maple Leafs.

How have Rielly and Ekman-Larsson impacted the Maple Leafs' performance?

Their partnership has led to a significant increase in the team's expected goals for percentage, making them one of the league's top pairings.

Why did Rielly and Ekman-Larsson start playing together regularly?

Injuries to other defensemen in November unexpectedly created an opportunity for them to be paired consistently.

Home / Sports / Unexpected Defensive Duo Dominates

Unexpected Defensive Duo Dominates

11 Dec

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Summary

Rielly and Ekman-Larsson form a surprisingly effective defensive pair.
Their on-ice performance significantly boosts the Maple Leafs' expected goals.
Injuries unexpectedly propelled this pairing into consistent play.

The Maple Leafs have stumbled upon a highly effective defensive pairing in Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. What began as a situational collaboration has evolved into a consistent partnership due to November injuries. This unexpected pairing has seen the Leafs win approximately 59 percent of expected goals in their five-on-five minutes, ranking them among the league's best.

The duo is generating a high volume of offensive chances while also tightening up defensively. Their success is particularly notable as they were not initially envisioned as a primary pairing. The coaching staff has maximized their offensive zone starts, further contributing to their impressive underlying numbers.

This development is occurring as both Rielly and Ekman-Larsson are having strong individual offensive seasons. The continued effectiveness of this pairing, especially in the absence of other key defensemen, presents a significant decision for the Maple Leafs' coaching staff regarding future lineup configurations.