The Maple Leafs have won three in a row, without Auston Matthews, but with a lot of contributions up and down the lineup.
Our takeaways from the Leafs’ 4-1 home win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, completing a weekend sweep:
IT’S MITCHCRAFT
When Mitch Marner is scoring shorthanded, playing keepaway at 5-on-5, trying to head high pucks soccer-style, kibitzing with the media and singing in the dressing room, you know he’s feeling it again.
From the moment he comes firing out of the tunnel, jumping up to chest-thump big Ryan Reaves, it’s a far cry from his long summer wondering where his contract situation will land and how he would get on with new coach Craig Berube.
“I just don’t think we’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” Marner said of the vibe in the Leafs style these days. “We’re staying above teams who have some serious firepower up front. We’ve done a good job putting pucks in good areas.”
Defenceman Conor Timmins can see that spirit in skill players such as Marner, William Nylander and Matthew Knies.
“That’s just a factor of the team winning,” he said. “When we’re playing the right way, we know we’re going to get the results eventually. Everyone is dialing in on the details and it’s showing.”
Marner combined with David Kampf for the 3-0 back-breaker shorty, Toronto’s first of the year, exchanging passes around the bamboozled Habs.
“It’s funny with these power-play guys who are skilled, know what (the opposition) power plays are going to do a lot of times,” had coach Craig Berube said. “Mitch anticipates well and has a great stick and is in position all the time.”
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PATCH-WORK LINEUP
The game wasn’t a period old when Pacioretty clutched the back of his leg in great pain and hobbled to the bench, needing assistance to get to the dressing room.
At least the injury seemed unrelated to the Achilles’ tendon issue that had dogged the 35-year-old’s career the past couple of years until his comeback with the Leafs. Captain John Tavares hinted some optimism after speaking with Pacioretty post-game, but Berube drew the curtain, unwilling to go beyond the generic ‘lower body’ description and saying he’ll be evaluated next week.
A few reasons for people not to get their hockey socks in a knot about this: The Leafs have already won three games this week without Matthews (38-19-2 overall) and Bobby McMann is a more than a capable fill-in as he was Saturday with Tavares and William Nylander.
Matthews could be ready to come off IR by Tuesday’s game against Ottawa and forward Connor Dewar is ready for his first game after months rehabbing a shoulder injury.
A TIMMINS RUN
Timmins being asked post-game: ‘What did you see on your goal?’ was the first time he’s heard that since before Christmas of last year. He faded from importance as last season went on and certainly had to work to impress the new coach this season with Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Phillipe Myers and Jani Hakanpaa brought in to improve the blueline.
But Timmins has got his job back for now, the team choosing to trade Timothy Liljegren late last month. At one time known more for his offence, Timmins is impressing Berube with his all-around game.
“It’s been a while since I’ve played an everyday role and I’m really enjoying it, playing in the moment,” he said. “I’m taking the play when it’s there, not forcing things and I’ve taken a step in my defending.”
Berube likes that last point.
“He’s been highly competitive and that’s key, winning battles and breaking pucks out under pressure,” he said. “He sees the ice really well on breakouts, hits the middle of the ice quite a bit. Tonight, he used his shot and scored.”
THE POWER HOUR
From looking for power-play crumbs, the Leafs are 8-for-15 the past four games. with the man advantage. Nylander had a jaw-dropping goal ,where no Habs defender tried to get in his way from his own end until he set up in shooting position in front of Samuel Montembeault. We’ll assume that assistant coach Marc Savard is sleeping a lot sounder these days.
“Up and down, it is what it is,” shrugged Nylander, who was among those preaching patience when the unit faltered and he was briefly taken off the No. 1 group.
Tavares can sense the confidence returning.
“It obviously wasn’t going well and at the end of the day, results matter most,” he said. “But there were a lot of things we could see underneath that, good trends. It’s a long year. You have to stay with it when you look at the success we’ve had over the years.”
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