In a game that almost took a disastrous turn for the Maple Leafs, they found their way to a 5-3 victory over the host Tampa Bay Lightning.
Our takeaways:
ON AND OFF STAR POWER
True to his word, Auston Matthews didn’t over-extend his shifts or himself after nine games away, playing just over 20 minutes with a sprinkling of power play and penalty killing. Both of his only shot attempts hit the net, he had two giveaways, two takeaways and two minutes to rest with a rare penalty. There was no rust in the faceoff circle, winning16 of 24 after John Tavares took a lot of vital draws in his absence.
Matthews will have to resume his franchise goal chase of Darryl Sittler and Mats Sundin another day, but his magic dust still collected two assists, on a Matthew Knies goal as his left winger also came back from injury, another on William Nylander’s empty-netter.
“I felt fine, a little rusty, but our line played solid all around and simple for the most part,” Matthews told media in Tampa.
In 14 games coming back from injury or suspension, Matthews has managed 13 goals, 17 assists and is a plus-12.
Rested Toronto also took full advantage of Nikita Kucherov’s unexplained absence from the Bolts’ lineup, further sagging a team that was playing its seventh game in 12 days, a player who usually lights up the Leafs.
Tavares did score, a nice backhand chip that improved him to 21 points in 22 games this season.
BLOCK AND BLUE
Coach Craig Berube said Jake McCabe shouldn’t miss any time next week after leaving the game midway through when a puck shot by Nick Perbix caught McCabe on the side of his head.
A good thing, as the Leafs has just added winger Bobby McMann to their injured list and had thus far avoided any serious misfortune with their defencemen. It’s remarkable the Leafs haven’t had more shot block injuries, given defenceman Chris Tanev and winger Steven Lorentz have joined the team and like McCabe, always seem to be putting themselves in harm’s way.
Toronto is averaging 16.92 blocks per 60 minutes, ranking sixth in the league. Getting Matthews back on the penalty kill along with Marner should raise that number, though it would sting to lose one of them to a bruise or break while moonlighting on special teams.
GET SMART
Berube was miffed at Nylander for his double stick minor that torpedoed a Leaf comeback in Florida on Wednesday, and could have done without Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s extra shot in a crease scrum Saturday. Not a hard crosscheck and it was a rather cheap call as he was knocked down harder in retaliation, but the referees were looking for any Toronto skullduggery at that stage and his penalty resulted in a 6-on-4 power play for Tampa Bay, leading to a dicey one-goal lead.
While Berube wants the Leafs to build an identity in his heavy image, recklessness can’t be part of it.
“We want to be better,” Matthews said. “They got the one goal and we weren’t as aggressive as we should have been. But we battled hard, got the two points, we’ll clean up some stuff and move forward.”
HIGH FIVE
After lots of anticipation about renewing the five-forward power play, the Leafs only had one Tampa Bay minor to try it out Saturday, and didn’t manage a shot on net.
They won’t get another chance to practice it before taking on Chicago at home Monday, though interestingly they and the Hawks sit right in the middle, 16th in penalty kill and power play, respectively.
The way Matthews can shoot, how Tavares digs and operates in the middle, and with Knies finally proving consistent net front presence, five forwards, with Marner and Nylander, deserves a longer look.
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