A four-game losing streak was looming for the Maple Leafs, but as a relieved coach Craig Berube said: “Battle, battle, battle”.
Toronto’s game-breakers eventually busted through for Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils, who began the night a point ahead of the Leafs and were looking to get their coach, Sheldon Keefe, a win in his return to Scotiabank Arena
Our takeaways, as Toronto re-opened a three-point lead on Florida atop the Atlantic Division.
AUSTON-TACIOUS
Multiple goals by their two leaders in that department — Auston Matthews and William Nylander, both fed by Mitch Marner — kept the Leafs in the match, netting three in the final period and overtime.
Matthews now has six goals in seven games since his return from his latest bout with an upper-body injury. He did what a captain is supposed to when the pressure is on his mates — draw a penalty, score on the advantage and force overtime by finding a mouse hole goal in the final minutes with a Rocket Richard-worthy snipe.
“Not losing our composure,” Matthews said was most vital, as the boo-birds began to circle again. “Even if the power play doesn’t score, you’re trying to get momentum back and that goal tied it, brought some life to the bench, the arena and we just went from there.”
From about 200 feet away, Joseph Woll watched Matthews wire his second over Jacob Markstrom’s shoulder.
“He’s had a couple of nice shots the past two games,” the Leafs netminder said. “I see him every day in practice and he does the same thing. I have a little bit of empathy for the other goalie. But when he’s in alone like that, you can count on him.”
POWER SHAKE
Berube has heard just about enough criticism lately of his man-advantage tactics.
The five-forward power play was about to get skewered in public again after narrowly avoiding another short-handed grenade — Nylander and Marner combined to give up a Nico Hischier breakaway with Marner whistled for a hook — but the Matthews goal salvaged the unit’s swagger.
“Our power play the last 10 games is 23 per cent,” Berube insisted. “It’s not struggling, (but) I get it has struggled at times.”
The flummoxed five did get one in the loss to Dallas and, after Thursday’s initial flirt with disaster, clicked again, with Bobby McMann in the injured John Tavares’ spot, earning an assist.
“Get it to the net, with numbers around the net,” Berube urged. “(The Devils) scored a goal the same way. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”
Now the penalty kill has to pick it up a bit, allowing goals in back-to-back games for the first time since late December.
JOHN GONE
In their first test without Tavares for a few games, after the second line centre was moved to injured reserve with a lower body injury, it wasn’t just the power play under scrutiny.
Max Domi was given his role between McMann and Nylander, needing to get some goals or assists himself in the coming games. He totalled just nine the previous 18 games, but fought for a puck and dropped a pass to Nylander for Toronto’s first goal.
“Max battled for loose pucks and he’s a good passer,” Berube praised. “He hit Oliver Ekman-Larsson back door twice. He makes plays, but he stepped up his intensity in this game, just being around the play.
“You miss a guy like John in terms of compete and battles and we got that effort from everybody tonight. We were down and kept at it. Our offensive zone play was a lot better tonight because of movement and shots.”
They’ll need it again Saturday on the road against the rejuvenated Canadiens.
MILESTONE MEN
Berube was quite impressed to be informed post-game that Marner had reached 700 points faster than any Leaf. It took Marner just 622 games, compared to fellow London Knights junior Darryl Sittler’s 666.
Domi also reached 300 NHL assists, while Nylander’s two goals after nearly a month without multiple markers gave him 26 and a temporary piece of third place in the league, tied with five others behind Leon Draisaitl’s 31.
Matthews needs one more power play goal for 100 to join Mats Sundin (124) and Sittler (120) in triple figures.
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