In winning for the 10th time in their past 12 games, the Maple Leafs stayed patient and finally got around to exposing a weaker Nashville Predators team in the third period.
Our takeaways from the Leafs’ 3-2 victory at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night:
BACK IN A GROOVE
In his third game after returning from an upper-body injury, captain Auston Matthews scored two goals for the first time in a game this season.
Reunited on a line with Mitch Marner during the second period by coach Craig Berube, Matthews went to work with his favourite running mate, scoring twice in one minute 58 seconds to erase a 1-0 Predators lead.
Marner assisted on both goals.
If there is a temptation on the part of Berube to put William Nylander back with Matthews on Friday at home against the Washington Capitals, and return Marner to a line with John Tavares, the coach should ignore it.
Matthews and Marner belong together.
“I don’t take credit,” Berube said. “They have played together a long time. You play together that much over the years. You just know where each other are. It’s an important part of the game, for sure. Chemistry is big.”
Berube thought Matthews played his best game since coming back to the lineup.
“I know he scored, but to me, he had his legs more, he skated,” Berube said. “He capitalized on his opportunities that he got, that’s what he does. Overall, it’s coming.”
Matthews might have agreed.
“The more games you get into, the more comfortable you get, the game legs, the lungs and everything starts to come back,” Matthews said. “I try to build from there and each night get better.”
Playing with Marner would help. Marner’s three assists continued what has been probably his best all-around hockey in the NHL. All three came early in the third period before it was six minutes old.
It was the third time in his NHL career that Marner had three assists in a period. The only players to do that more in Leafs history were Darryl Sittler and Borje Salming, who both did it four times.
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence on both sides of the puck,” Matthews said. “He’s a great player, easy guy to play with. He drives play, and he makes plays all over the ice, all three zones. He has been playing incredible for us, and he had another big night for us.”
THE RIGHT WAY
The Leafs gave up just 12 shots on goal through the first two periods, though they were down 1-0 entering the third period.
The Leafs did what has become commonplace under Berube: They stayed within themselves and didn’t let their minds wander, nor did they start cheating. Matthews’ two goals at even-strength were followed by Nylander’s power-play goal.
“It’s a big part of it, for sure,” Berube said. “We defended well in the game.
“An important part of our identity is playing good defence and defending and you can’t force things. The third, we got a little bit more mojo going and attacked a little bit more and created some more opportunities. It worked out.”
It’s adding up. The Leafs were second in the NHL in goals-against before other games were done on Wednesday, allowing just 2.52 a game. Only the Minnesota Wild, at 2.32 a game, were better.
There are several factors in play.
“We worked on it from camp,” Berube said. “Our goaltending has been great. That’s a big part of it.
“Our defence has been solid. Our defencemen have done a great job of defending, blocking shots, are hard around our net, and I think our guys are really buying into that system and protecting the middle of the ice.
“We give up shots, we give up outside things and stuff like that. We protect the middle of the ice the best we can, and we try not to give odd-man rushes up. We’ve done a great job of that. Odd-man rushes go in the net.”
MINTEN FRESH
The accolades keep coming for Fraser Minten, who continues to build a fine case for himself.
Once the Leafs’ injury issues clear up, is Minten going to get an automatic ticket back to the Toronto Marlies if he keeps playing as well as he has?
He’s doing enough to prove he belongs. The 20-year-old was moved to the wing with Tavares and Nylander once Berube made the decision to mix up the lines.
Minten had five shots on goal and led the Leafs with seven hits.
“I thought he had get some chances around the net, shot pucks,” Berube said. “Just liked his positioning, his poise out there. He was solid for me tonight. He’s poised out there. He doesn’t panic. He’s always in the right spot.”
At some point, Minten will be a full-time Leaf. Whether it’s this season or next, there’s no denying that he is making the Leafs scouting staff look really good for taking him 38th overall in 2022.
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