Matthews injury opens up ice time for Kapanen
Leafs’ forward looks to find success playing with Nylander and Hyman
After Saturday’s win over Boston, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Kasperi Kapanen had registered just 33 shots on goal in 21 games.
Kapanen, with four goals this season, plans on changing that.
“I have had a lot of chances where I should have shot the puck,” Kapanen said. “I have to have that shooter mentality.”
With Auston Matthews nursing a shoulder injury and not on the trip, Kapanen was anticipating the chance to play on a line with William Nylander at centre and Zach Hyman on the left wing.
Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock didn’t want the speedy, smart Kapanen to start playing outside of his natural boundaries.
“We’re in a spot here, trying to spread things around and have the best opportunity for him,” Babcock said. “The big thing he has to do is if he just plays like he plays, he is fine. As soon as he starts trying to do too much, he will be in trouble.”
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is ready for Tampa’s final 20 games of the regular season.
“Regardless of who we’re playing, we know the quality of teams that are currently behind us in the standings, and they’re going to win the majority of their games down the stretch,” Stamkos said, referring to the Leafs and the Boston Bruins.
“If we want to stay where we are, we’re going to have to do the same, no matter the opponent. Any time you play a divisional rival, there is more on the line, that’s for sure.”
Figure on Tampa’s recent playoff runs — minus last spring, when the Lightning missed the post-season — serving as valuable experience for the players who were part of them.
“We know what it’s like to play these final 20 games, getting into the playoffs, going on a deep run, we know what it takes and know not to take it for granted,” Stamkos said. “It’s extremely tough to win in this league. When you have a group that is as special as we feel we have this year, you don’t want to waste that opportunity.
“There’s no days off down the stretch here. Any time you can play teams that are battling, it’s only going to help. When you are playing the teams that are in the fight with you, it’s as close as you are going to get to that (playoff ) atmosphere. It’s going to be good for us.”
No matter what happened on deadline day with the Leafs and trades — and as it turned out, nothing occurred — Babcock was going to be in a good mood. Why? The Leafs’ lofty position in the standings afforded him as much.
“What’s exciting for me is you are in a position that (the final hours prior to the deadline) might be exciting. Because there is nothing worse than everybody leaving. That’s the worst feeling you could ever have. What you’re hoping to do is to do a good enough job as a coach, as players, as a scouting staff, to have enough there so that it can be exciting time of year and there is hope.”
Leafs winger Matt Martin sat out his 16th consecutive game Monday night. Unless the Leafs are hit with a barrage of injuries, or suddenly fall off the winning wagon, it’s conceivable Martin does not play again in the regular season.