TORONTO — “The not-pretty stuff.”
That’s how Matthew Knies, precisely, describes the work of his letter-wearing teammates — Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner — who hung across the defensive zone, icing after icing, battle after rebound, block after cross-check, and helped solidify the hard-fought 3-2 rating that they had earned over the defending Stanley Cup champions.
It’s one factor to learn to construct a lead; it’s one other to know the worth of conserving one.
And so, it was the all-around effort of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ superstars that punched their ninth consecutive ticket to the post-season (an energetic NHL file), defeated the mighty Florida Panthers, and elevated their Atlantic Division result in three factors.
If Wednesday felt like the largest win of the season (and so they solely get bigger from right here), that’s as a result of Toronto’s often lackadaisical superstars handled it as such.
“You noticed within the final minute and a half. They keep on the market and kill it and put it alongside the wall on the very finish of the sport. So, it’s essential for these guys to try this form of factor and step up for us,” raved Knies, who wasn’t so shabby himself. “It’s enjoyable to look at, to be trustworthy. It’s actually cool for them to do stuff like that. You recognize, the not-pretty stuff.”
Matthews blocked three pictures. Marner threw a few hits. Tavares gained 13 of 17 faceoffs.
In a match freed from simple offence and wealthy with excellent goaltending, all three of them, plus William Nylander, discovered a strategy to dent the scoresheet and end on the plus aspect of the ledger.
Granted, the Panthers arrived on this slushy city drained after an time beyond regulation defeat in Montreal lower than 24 hours prior and have been with out MVP Aleksander Barkov (daily, higher physique), chief agitator Matthew Tkachuk (IR, groin), and top-four defenceman Aaron Ekblad (PED suspension).
However the hockey was nonetheless very a lot performed at a Panthers tempo and with playoff ferocity. Sixty-four hits have been launched, 28 pictures bought blocked, and solely three penalties bought known as.
And the Maple Leafs dressed the most effective gamers.
“That’s key,” says Anthony Stolarz, who has performed for either side. “They’re gonna be our horses, and so they’re gonna have to guide, offensively and defensively. For us to go far, these guys are gonna need to decide to a 200-foot recreation. And I believe proper now, we’re doing a wholesome job of that. And once they’re going, everybody else follows go well with. So, it is thrilling to see, for certain. And the best way we’re taking part in proper now, it’s trending in the suitable route.
“I like what I’m seeing out of the boys.”
Robust net-front play. Slicing down on odd-man rushes and rebound alternatives. Sacrificing stats and limbs for the better good. Digging in and preventing by way of checks.
These are the tenets new coach Craig Berube has been preaching since coaching camp, the grand concept being that he’ll persuade and coerce this group to execute the kind of exhausting however exhilarating 3-2 choice we witnessed on Wednesday 16 extra occasions when the match begins on April 19.
The trick is to deal with each puck battle and boxout prefer it issues — but stay affected person and protracted when the opponent dominates you for a stretch (just like the Panthers did in Interval 2) or cuts the lead and presses late (like they did with 2:38 to go).
Fairly boys embracing the ugly arts.
“Regardless of the recreation goes to current, we’re simply going to proceed to play,” Tavares preached.
“It’s clearly a decent hockey recreation, playoff-like with the quantity of room and house on the market. Simply preventing for a lot territory and some inches of ice to create one thing offensively and maintain momentum, maintain play, and proceed to attempt to put on your opponent down. That’s playoff hockey.”
Extra performances like this, and the Maple Leafs may very well be spoken of the identical means Chris Tanev, the epitome of sacrifice, speaks of the Panthers: “They at all times play the suitable means. Zero cheat of their recreation. They’re gonna offer you trustworthy, 100 per cent effort each time.”
Certain, Nylander’s snappy go and red-hot Tavares’s thirty sixth purpose of the season will make the spotlight reel. So, too, will Marner’s buttery stretch go and Knies’s bulldozer deke of Sergei Bobrovsky.
However it’s the not-pretty stuff that impresses us most, and that gives optimism for the Leafs turning the longest energetic playoff streak right into a future as soon as they get there.
“It is a group, extra seemingly than not, if we wish to accomplish what we wish to accomplish, that we’re gonna run into within the playoffs,” Stolarz mentioned of his ex.
“Simply having the ability to match them for 60 minutes and form of take over within the third, rating some well timed objectives, after which shut it down towards the tip, I believe, was enormous for us. Large for our confidence.”
• Third time’s a allure.
After dropping his first two selections to his former group, Stolarz was busier and higher than his onetime mentor Bobrovsky on this night time, turning away 29 of 31 pucks zipped his means.
“He’s bought somewhat little bit of a laid-back character,” Tavares says. “However his depth as soon as he places his pads on is fairly unimaginable, the best way he’s barking and speaking on the market and into the sport.”
Marner says Stolarz — who set a brand new profession excessive with 17 wins — is without doubt one of the most vocal goalies he’s ever skated in entrance of.
“He’s kinda ruthless again there, screaming and yelling at us,” Knies agrees. “However I believe it simply makes him play higher. He’s extraordinarily motivated and desires to win actually dangerous.”
Berube simply smiles: “You want that fireside.”
• That’s 4 straight 10-goal seasons for defenceman Gustav Forsling. The highest-pair, 28-year-old defenceman is locked in for 5 extra seasons past this one.
Fast: Title a greater waiver-wire pickup taking part in right this moment.
“I get pleasure from watching video games. Perhaps once I was mid-to-late 20s, I used to be too cool to look at video games. Now, I watch a ton. You’re seeing what different groups are doing and the way they’re taking part in to know what to anticipate.” —Chris Tanev, NHL binge-watcher.
• Nick Robertson served his third straight wholesome scratch. The third-line winger was chugging by way of a five-game level drought prior. With veteran Max Pacioretty (LTIR) quietly ramping up for motion, Robertson appears to be in robust once more to be a playoff common.
Actually, that is not what he wanted. However an upper-body harm suffered by David Kämpf Wednesday may reopen the door. (No replace on Kämpf’s well being was offered post-game.)
In the meantime, right-shot defenceman Philippe Myers has been a wholesome scratch for 11 consecutive video games and counting.
• Leafs Nation managed to pick Brad Marchand although he was disguised in Panthers colors.
Marchand was booed lustily every time his blade touched the puck.
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