Ugly hockey works every so often.
Case in point: The Maple Leafs’ 4-3 shootout victory on Monday night in Salt Lake City against the Utah Hockey Club.
Our takeaways from a win that put the Leafs within two points of the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division:
MARNER RISES
Leave it to Mitch Marner to quiet the noise surrounding his future with the team with another magical move for the shootout winner.
Marner didn’t give himself much space for a quick forehand deke to beat goalie Karel Vejmelka, but Marner doesn’t require a lot of ice to make something work. He shot the puck into the net with authority, putting an exclamation mark on what had to be an uncomfortable few days for the winger.
“He came through,” coach Craig Berube told media in Salt Lake City. “Hell of a move he made. That’s what he does.”
We should give Marner some credit here. After Marner reportedly was asked whether he would consider waiving his no-movement clause after the Carolina Hurricanes asked for him to be included in a trade for Mikko Rantanen, Marner scored two goals against Colorado on Saturday night.
Next came the winner on Monday, which was preceded by an assist on a William Nylander goal for Marner’s 80th point of the season. For those who have not been paying attention, Marner is sixth in NHL scoring.
We’ll say this to those who think Marner and the Leafs should part ways this summer: Be careful what you wish for. With Rantanen off the market after signing with the Dallas Stars, there is no other forward of Marner’s calibre who will be available in free agency.
Definitely, let’s see what happens in the playoffs and what kind of impact Marner will have. Just keep in mind that the Leafs wouldn’t be replacing Marner’s ability, no matter who they would acquire, on the open market.
The game ended a string of 11 of 13 games on the road for the Leafs. Marner, who has consistently talked about his love of playing in his home town, ensured there would be some joy on the flight home.
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FIT TO BE TIED
A day after the Leafs held a meeting to get back on the same page following three losses in a row, Toronto built a 3-0 lead and then sat back to enjoy the view.
That relaxed approach nearly was deadly, as Utah scored three goals in a span of three minutes 57 seconds in the middle of the second period to draw even.
We don’t know why the Leafs figured they needed a reminder of what can happen when they stop playing with structure and let their minds wander. After all, in their three previous losses, the Leafs coughed up multi-goal leads against Colorado and San Jose.
“It wasn’t picture perfect, blowing a bit of a lead,” Leafs goalie Joseph Woll told media in Salt Lake City. “I think the important thing is staying true to our systems and the way we know how to play and being able to win tight games like that, so it was huge.”
Utah is in a fight to get to a wildcard spot in the Western Conference, as it’s four points out following games on Monday. Truth be told, it was the better team, outshooting the Leafs 22-12 in 45 1/2 minutes of five-on-five hockey. On the power play, Toronto had the edge, scoring two goals with a man advantage to Utah’s one.
At five-on-five, only the fourth line of David Kampf between Steven Lorentz and Pontus Holmberg broke even on shot attempts, which were 6-6 with the line on the ice.
The trio of Scott Laughton between Bobby McMann and Max Domi didn’t have a great night, and neither did the second line of John Tavares centring Calle Jarnkrok and Nylander.
Jarnkrok scored his first goal of the season on a power play, but in the top six, he’s out of place.
The top line of Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews and Marner didn’t dominate like it can.
Each line, provided each stays intact, will be seeking an uptick in its play on Thursday when the Leafs welcome the Florida Panthers to begin a four-game home stand.
And while Simon Benoit scored for the first time in 91 games and won a scrap with Michael Kesselring — you will be seeing the photo of his Superman punch for a while — the defence corps as a whole was not sharp. The Leafs pine for Chris Tanev every game he is out with an upper-body injury, but his ability to move the puck cleanly and calmly was missed.
As for the Benoit punch, Berube told media: “Something I never did, I’m taking notes. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. Maybe years ago, at some point, somebody did it … we actually got a great picture of it, it’s pretty cool.”
Benoit was asked about the punch.
“I think it was just in the moment,” Benoit said. “I had an opening there and I just took it.”
WOLL RECOVERS
Woll took a stride in the right direction in his first start after he was pulled for the first time in his NHL career, last Wednesday in Vegas.
A save on Dylan Guenther during an early Utah power play demonstrated that Woll was in a good spot. None of the three Utah goals could be fully pinned on Woll; two came off defensive-zone lapses, first on the part of Morgan Rielly and second thanks to some confusion involving Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tavares and Brandon Carlo.
The Leafs gave up too much space and Utah took advantage.
Woll, who also was not good against Pittsburgh last Sunday, made 30 saves, including four in overtime. In the shootout, he stopped Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley. Clayton Keller, the third Utah shooter, scored after Matthews did. Marner then beat Vejmelka.
For good reason, the discussion involving the Leafs goaltending as it pertains to the playoffs is that Anthony Stolarz will be the starter. Stolarz, no question, has been the better Leafs goalie.
Woll has been sharp for the most part, this latest dip aside. Now, to keep it going in his next start, possibly on Saturday at home against Ottawa.
“Very good,” Berube said of Woll. “He held us in there, made some big saves for us.”
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