ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Toronto Maple Leafs received’t be so fortunate as to face the Anaheim Ducks within the playoffs, however the formulation they used to sneak by a speedy, younger opponent might properly match the recipe they’ll depend on come mid-April.
Equal elements stable goaltending, dedication to shot blocking, and game-breaking talent performs, with a splash of unsung hero.
Within the case of Sunday’s 3-2 win in Orange County — a regulation victory that allowed the Atlantic Division leaders to fly from sunshine to ice storm having earned 5 of six factors in California — that closing ingredient was equipped by Steven Lorentz.
On a back-to-back the place the locals chanted “Quack! Quack!” the Leafs practically cracked.
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The rebuilding Geese, a enjoyable if flawed outfit nonetheless studying to fly, outshot (30-23), out-attempted (76-55) and outchanced (36-32) their guests, however Lorentz’s nifty tip of a David Kämpf level shot squirted previous Lukas Dostal with lower than 9 minutes to go and stood tall because the distinction in a slim-margin affair.
It was Lorentz’s seventh purpose and fourth game-winner.
“I didn’t understand it was my fourth. Good to listen to,” beamed Lorentz, who leads all Leafs in smiles-per-60. The role-playing Cup winner charges fairly excessive amongst his teammates in perspective, too.
“I’ve been on the opposite finish. I’ve been on a group like (Anaheim), the place they’re not tremendous comfortable within the standings, however they’re nonetheless preventing for subsequent season and jobs. So, we knew they have been going to convey their good recreation at this time. And I assumed we battled onerous. Had just a few lapses. We’ll tackle these in video. However we received the win, so we’re comfortable.”
No nitpicking a win appears to be the sentiment in Leafland today, which is comprehensible contemplating the membership is in a three-headed dogfight (Cerebus fight?) with its foes from Florida for first seed.
Coach Craig Berube famous pregame that the Montreal Canadiens had upset the Panthers earlier than puck drop, and what a possibility to achieve some separation from the Cats earlier than Wednesday’s head-to-head.
“It’s no secret what is going on on within the standings proper now. All these factors matter,” Lorentz, an ex-Panther, continued. “And we received three massive video games developing towards the 2 groups which are within the combine with us. So, these are positively vital video games and vital factors on the road.”
To reach these massive checks, and those that observe, Toronto will want the kind of bounce-back goaltending efficiency supplied by Joseph Woll (.935 on this night time); showtime offensive performs just like the singular-effort objectives by Max Domi (pretend shot, backhand roof) and Mitch Marner (pretend shot, deke into subsequent week); and blue-liners keen to clog lanes.
The Leafs out-blocked the Geese 22-9, lower than 24 hours after out-blocking the Kings 14-9.
On Sunday, Brandon Carlo blocked 5 pucks whereas Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe threw their our bodies in entrance of 4 apiece.
“I’ve positively observed only a heightened self-discipline and unselfishness of the defenceman to try this — and the forwards. That is the sort of stuff that wins championships, placing the group first,” Woll mentioned.
“You’ve gotten guys coming off the ice which are bruised, banged up from blocking pictures, and that’s what it takes. I respect that greater than my phrases can say, proper? Like, they’ve rather a lot much less tools, and so they’re placing their physique on the road for the group and for me and for (Anthony Stolarz), so it is fairly superior.”
That sacrificial mandate stems from Berube. However having an injection of sturdy personnel that’s eager to take action (notably Tanev and Carlo) goes a good distance.
“We stress it rather a lot,” Berube mentioned. “I nonetheless suppose we will do a greater job of it. You are going to must do a greater job of it. It is vital. It is a massive deal. In playoffs and to win hockey video games, tight video games, you bought to have the willingness to dam pictures.”
You’ve additionally received to have just a few unsung heroes contribute alongside the best way.
So, whereas star centremen John Tavares and Auston Matthews have been driving the bus these days, it’s OK for guys like Loretz to take the wheel infrequently.
“You’re by no means gonna win until you bought all 4 strains going,” Domi mentioned.
“Big purpose by Stevie. That entire line, all of them might have gotten a purpose on that as a result of, I imply, Homer (Pontus Holmberg) defending the puck, Dave defending the puck, and what a tip. So, all three of them are buzzing. And in playoffs, that is going to be big, since you want all 4 strains.”
Simply as you want that one additional slice of execution, that one additional save to finish up on the fitting facet of a back-and-forth contest.
“We knew it wasn’t gonna be a simple recreation, particularly on a back-to-back. And we simply caught with it,” Marner mentioned. “It’s not a simple street journey by any means — three video games in 4 nights to get used to a three-hour time change.
“San Jose recreation wasn’t simple. We made some big mistakes that they countered on. However I assumed we battled again to get some extent, which is nice. After which, these final two, each groups excellent, very onerous to play towards. So, these are vital factors. We wished to get them.
“Simply pleased with us digging in and battling for them.”
The battle solely grows more durable from right here.
The Panthers roll into Toronto Wednesday.
• With Toronto making its annual go to to Southern California, the Honda Heart’s in-house DJ was leaning in onerous to the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef.
Not solely have been a half-dozen Kendrick tracks blasted over the audio system all through the sport, however twice after abruptly slicing off a Drake observe early.
One man, armed with a mixer, doing his greatest to spark a regional rivalry.
We’re eight video games from the top of the common season. Marner wants 9 factors to hit 100 for the primary time. William Nylander wants eight objectives to succeed in 50. Can they do it?
Marner had an help taken away on a disallowed Matthew Knies purpose when the Geese efficiently challenged high-stick contact.
“I requested the refs after. It is due to my top that it received referred to as off,” he mentioned. “However I’ve had some powerful bounces with stuff getting referred to as off proper now, so hopefully it modifications.”
“You keep in contact after they have infants and stuff. I congratulate them. However they’re very nice guys.” —Simon Benoit on his enduring relationship together with his former Geese teammates
• Calle Järnkrok has stored a watch on fellow Swede Leo Carlson, who has piled seven factors in three video games and reached the 20-goal and 40-point marks Sunday.
“Acquired the scale. Acquired the received the talent. He’s received slightly little bit of little bit every little thing,” Järnkrok says. “It’s gonna be fascinating to observe him all through his profession, for certain.”
• In the meantime, down on the farm… NCAA free agent pickup Luke Haymes scored his first skilled purpose and notched his first professional help within the Marlies’ 5-4 loss to Bridgeport.
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