Kiddie corps leading the charge in Toronto
Leafs prepare to host Panthers coming off a big, last-minute win over Red Wings
No, Mike Babcock, you were not mistaken. When you surmised following the Maple Leafs’ victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night that Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander were the team’s top three in scoring — “three kids,” as you said — you were right.
Really, it’s the natural progression from a year ago, when Matthews had a team-high 69 points and won the Calder Trophy, while Nylander and Marner weren’t far behind, each supplying 61 points. So far this year, Matthews has 49 points including 27 goals while Nylander and Marner each have 14 goals and 46 points.
What was crucial for the Leafs in the victory over Detroit, and will be in Toronto’s final 21 games of the regular season starting on Tuesday night when the Florida Panthers visit the Air Canada Centre, is the ability of the youngsters to produce when there’s little space. And it won’t get any easier heading down the stretch run.
“It’s not like they’re our team leaders because we’ve got Patty (Marleau) and (Ron) Hainsey and guys like that,” Babcock said. “But they’ve got such huge growth potential, they’re intelligent people and they’ve got a chance to get better. The more tight games and big games we’re in, the better they’re going to get.”
There were a number of encouraging signs for the Leafs in Detroit, in part stemming from the play of the trio of young stars. For instance, the club didn’t get sidetracked when a goal by Zach Hyman was waived off when the mask of Wings goalie Petr Mrazek came off.
Matthews, snake-bitten in recent games, stuck with it and scored the winner with less than a minute to go. Marner’s goal earlier was a result not only of skill but also of patience, and had Leafs goalie Curtis McElhinney, who made 27 saves in the 3-2 win, marvelling afterward.
“It’s tough (for opposing goalies),” McElhinney said. “Those guys, they make plays out of nothing sometimes. A lot of guys would just shoot the puck in those situations when they get in those areas. For them to hold on to it for an extra second, it’s impressive.”
Each of the three brings a stoicism that can’t be taught, and Nylander is playing more engaged hockey than he has previously. Those factors will be critical for the Leafs through the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.
MAC IN FINE FORM
The Leafs know they can’t ask for more out of McElhinney, who has put together a record of 7-4-0 and a sparkling .932 save percentage, playing mostly in the second half of back-to-back sets.
McElhinney’s fine overall performance not only has been a boon for the Leafs, it’s allowed the organization to let Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard prosper with the Toronto Marlies.
McElhinney acknowledged he glances at the schedule every so often to see when the next backto-back games are coming. The Leafs have three remaining, with games in Tampa Bay and Florida next Monday and Tuesday, respectively, first up.
“It’s been fairly predictable, the year and a bit I’ve been here,” McElhinney said. “I certainly do a little bit of planning, but there are instances when you’re thrown into the fire. Who knows (how it will work) here down the stretch. We’ll see.”
Said Matthews: “He has been huge for us. Freddie (Andersen) takes most of the games, but on those back-to-backs, big Mac has been big for us. He has held us in some games, made some big stops.”
PANTHERS ON THE PROWL
As much as the Panthers appear to be out of the wild-card race in the Eastern Conference, coach Bob Boughner insisted during a conference call on Monday the confidence factor has not ebbed in the dressing room.
That has been evident for the most part, as the Panthers had won seven of eight games before they were beaten 7-2 by the Jets in Winnipeg on Sunday.
“There’s a lot of belief in our
They’ve got a chance to get better. The more tight games and big games we’re in, the better they’re going to get.
room,” Boughner said. “We don’t sit there and post the standings every day and talk about ‘We need to win this game to catch this team.’ There is none of that happening right now.”
A key for the Panthers, Boughner thinks, is the club’s schedule after they play the Leafs. Of the team’s following 12 games, 11 are at home (including a visit by the Leafs on Feb. 27), and the lone road game is across the state of Florida against the Lightning.
“Keeping in the race, keeping it tight and getting to (the favourable schedule in) March is what we’re all talking about,” Boughner said. “We’re setting ourselves up for a nice home stand.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Andersen, slated to start in the Leafs net on Tuesday, has allowed just one power-play goal in nine career games versus Florida. Andersen is 5-3-1 against the Panthers with a .923 save percentage and a 2.30 goals-against average … The Marlies were unable to treat a Family Day crowd of 14,863 at the ACC to a victory on Monday afternoon, losing 5-2 against the Hershey Bears. Miro Aaltonen and Rinat Valiev scored for the Marlies, and Sparks made 22 saves.