Tavares knows all Leafs Nation eyes are on him
As much as John Tavares hates to lose, the Maple Leafs centre isn’t about to start putting more on his own shoulders.
The Leafs have hit a rut with a road game on Saturday night in Pittsburgh against Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Penguins on tap, losing four of their past six games and finding goals hard to come by.
Tavares, the US$11-million man, has scored one goal in the past nine games after a wonderful start saw him score six in four games, and he is well aware that eyes in Leafs Nation are turning to him, especially with Auston Matthews out of action because of a shoulder injury.
“I know I am counted on to produce and it’s part of the game and supposed to be one of my strengths,” Tavares said after practice on Friday at the MasterCard Centre. “I wouldn’t say I put any more pressure on (himself ) than I do normally to play at a high level consistently.
“I think it’s mostly about creating the opportunities, being good without the puck and capitalizing when I get them and trying to make a big impact.
“I don’t really try to change that mindset or my focus that way. I just try to come every day and get better and know I want to keep pushing myself to get to a another level.”
There’s little doubt that Tavares, who was sharp in a 2-1 Leafs loss against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena, has been effective in the offensive zone. He has 48 shots on goal — a total that leads Toronto and one that had been bettered by only 11 players in the National Hockey League prior to games on Friday — and has been on the ice for more Leafs scoring chances (109) than any other Leafs forward.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock can’t find much fault with the value Tavares has brought, but the coach knows many outside the organization might be a little quicker to judge.
It’s not as though Tavares has been an offensive slouch overall. With 14 points in 13 games, the 28-year-old is on pace for 88 points, which would be a career high. Tavares never scored more than 38 goals in any of his nine seasons as a member of the New York Islanders, yet is on pace for 44.
“I think he has been outstanding,” Babcock said. “I think with all these things, all these deals you make, it’s the test of time, it’s not the test of a week.
“Probably there have been lots of adjustments just from moving, different players, different coaches, all those things. This (indicating more reporters). Lots of things.
“But I think he has been great. I thought he played a real good game for us (versus Dallas), was real solid, the puck never went in for him. We just have to keep him going in the right direction and feeling good.”
Tavares has found a good fit with Mitch Marner, whose ability to dazzle and create, admittedly, could make a novice hockey player look pretty good. Still, the pair will have to be proficient against the Penguins, which will be a challenge.
Tavares has played the Penguins more than any other team — 44 games in the regular season — but has scored more goals against 11 other clubs.
Tavares has 10 goals and 21 assists versus Pittsburgh, often going up against Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Only against Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers does Tavares have more assists.
“Being in the same division for a long time, I got a good sense of the level they play at and the competitiveness, the intensity they have on a nightly basis, so there is no doubt they will be the driving force of their team (Saturday) night, as they have been for the last 10 years,” Tavares said. “Be as ready as you can be … it’s a great opportunity to raise your game.”