Toronto hanging tough
Leafs’ sudden success in one-goal games a recent development for franchise
Travel back 10 years to find the last time a Leaf team won three straight one-goal games in which at least two were determined in regulation.
The recent success in holding leads in tight tilts, modest as it is, would fly in the face of a team cursed by close defeats from the intro of the shootout. The unceasing playoff push of the Pat Burns- and Pat Quinn-led teams was stopped by a decade of dark springs at the ACC, many determined by missing five to 10 points, which a better team defence would’ve provided in so many down-to-the wire results.
Mike Babcock endured 50 onegoal losses in regulation and extra time in his first two seasons on the job. So imagine his delight upon seeing the Leafs tied with Columbus atop the NHL with 10 one-goal wins on Monday morning, versus three setbacks.
Of course goaltending has a lot to do with it, Frederik Andersen boosting his save percentage to .922, good enough to qualify for the top 10 in the circuit. Then came Curtis McElhinney’s 41-save, 1-0 shutout of Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Sunday night.
McElhinney still needed the aid of 20 blocked shots and a 4-for-4 penalty kill, which included a fullterm double minor. Toronto centres have also been quite effective in the face-off dots, leading or top 10 in categories such as even strength and defensive zone wins and noteworthy as the most successful in the league on the draw when leading in a game.
The team as a whole just came through a stretch of seven games against the NHL’s elite; McDavid twice, Johnny Gaudreau and the Calgary Flames twice, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and the ever-dangerous Sedin Twins. Only Ovechkin lit them up, McDavid and Crosby each held to a goal.
“It’s the calmness of our team in general,” said second-year forward Mitch Marner. “It starts with Fred and we trust Mac a lot, too. No matter the score, they give our team a sense of calm.”
Defenceman Jake Gardiner started here when the Leafs had a more experienced team, but often were unable to prevent late-game breakdowns. With a clean slate under Babcock and infused with Marner, Auston Matthews, Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, Morgan Rielly and Gardiner’s partner, Nikita Zaitsev, the picture has improved.
“When we’re both going it helps one another out,” Gardiner said of Zaitsev. “He’s close to leading the league in shot blocks (Zaitsev and Kris Russell of the Oilers tied at 88 as of Monday) and if something breaks down, there’s a decent chance he’ll probably be saving us. He’s got that Russian strength; he’s not huge but he gets it done.
“Last year we were really young. Some of our players were first-year guys. They’re learning now that if you have a lead, to play with that lead, play differently, maybe a little safer.”
Sunday’s win was accomplished without the shaken up Auston Matthews, marking five times this autumn Toronto has won without its leading scorer. William Nylander moved to centre on the first line against the Oilers, assisting on the only goal by Zach Hyman. Patrick Marleau has also stepped in in the middle, while Nazem Kadri drew the next-to-impossible task of shadowing McDavid. Unable to derail the No. 97 freight train, Kadri did win nine of 13 draws.
“That gives us more confidence that anybody can move up and down the depth chart and play with anybody.” Kadri said off the recent record.
The opening-minute Hyman strike was a good response to Babcock’s constant braying about not starting on time, part of an NHL-best 16 wins when scoring first. But the coach is not about to coast when asked about his team extending efforts beyond the much sought-after quick break from the blocks. He isn’t big on falling back into a defensive shell when getting the important first goal.
“Just play ... play for the next one,” Babcock urged. “Put those goals in the bank and collect the interest. Well, nothing collects interest in the bank, but you know what I mean.”
A few more one-goal wins would fatten the team’s spring playoff account.