Faceoff proficiency next up for Matthews

Babcock wants more possessions for Leafs rookie

PHILADELPHIA • When it came to the development of Auston Matthews into a first-line NHL centre, the talent was never going to be the issue for Leafs coach Mike Babcock and his staff.

That didn’t mean there wasn’t and isn’t a definite plan in place to manage the growth of the first overall pick from last June. Lately, the main assignment has been improving in faceoffs and the more games Matthews plays, the more success he seems to be having in the circle.

In Wednesday’s 4-0 win in Detroit, Matthews had one of his better nights at the dot, winning 71 per cent of his draws.

“He’s probably getting tired of never having the puck,” Babcock said when asked Thursday about Matthews improvement. “After a while you decide you want to have the puck.”

The coaching staff has been working with Matthews to improve in that area, especially given he’s often matched up against a top opposing centre. And part of that growth has come from Babcock leaving his young centre on the ice for key defensive faceoffs at important moments in the game.

“Auston’s done a good job,” Babcock says. “We didn’t talk about his faceoffs at all until recently. Now it’s obviously time for him to do good in that area and he’s doing it.”

ROAD WARRIORS

The Leafs’ recent run of success on the road is a hot topic around the league, especially given how poor they were away from the Air Canada Centre in October and November.

Entering Thursday’s contest against the Flyers, they had earned at least one point in their previous 11 road contests and had the NHL’s top power play (30.4 per cent) and penalty kill (90.9 per cent) in away games.

So why has the team become among the most efficient road warriors in the league?

“Maturity,” says Leafs centre Nazem Kadri. “That’s really what that it is. At the beginning of the season, it wasn’t like that. We often struggled.

“This is something we had to learn, sometimes the hard way. I’m glad that happened at the beginning of the season (rather) than now. Our young kids have shown definite maturity.”

MAC ATTACK

As the team was facing second game in as many nights, Babcock went to Curtis McElhinney on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. It was just his second appearance since being plucked off the waiver wire last month.

Expect those assignments to continue, even if starter Freddie Andersen is coming off back-to-back shutouts.

“He kept us in it,” Babcock said of McElhinney’s only other start with the Leafs, a 4-2 win at Ottawa on Jan. 14. “I just thought his confidence with the group helped us be confident to get the win.”