Why the Maple Leafs’ shutout loss to the Devils isn’t as bad as it seems

On Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs were shut out 4-0 by the New Jersey Devils, losing both legs of their home back-to-back and dropping their fifth game in the last six. Many were quick to pile on the Leafs after another difficult defeat, but it's worth noting how good the Devils were and have been, as well as the hurdles Toronto faced.

Penalties were a constant momentum killer for the Leafs, many of them coming at crucial moments. With the game scoreless in the first period, Easton Cowan was called for slashing on what looked like a fairly standard stick check, after New Jersey's Timo Meier whipped his head back, a reaction that appeared to sell the call and put the Devils on the…