Leafs have a hundred reasons to smile
Toronto fills the score sheet in front of youthful crowd in franchise’s Next Century Game
TORONTO — With an unusually loud Air Canada Centre teeming with kids for an even rarer afternoon Next Century Game, a baby-faced member of the Toronto Maple Leafs launched the next 100 years of the franchise with a man-sized effort.
Mitch Marner, wearing Toronto Arenas throwback sweaters with his mates, had a career-best four-point game in an 8-1 thrashing of the Carolina Hurricanes. On the exact day the franchise started NHL play in 1917, the blue and white put on a red-light show against Carolina and its unfortunate goalie Scott Darling.
Losers of three straight and recovering from five games in seven nights, coach Mike Babcock’s Leafs needed the two points more than the pomp and ceremony surrounding the milestone game. Cue Marner’s opening-period three points included his first goal in five weeks.
“When we were getting chances today, we were moving our feet, cycling the puck well,” said Marner. “Guys were getting open and getting to the net. Especially our line. That’s what we want to get back to, a team that pushes the pace and makes it harder on the other team’s defence.”
By Tuesday, after a series of unsuccessful line changes, Marner came full circle to rejoin left-winger James van Riemsdyk and centre Tyler Bozak, the veterans who helped him make the NHL all-rookie team last year. The older duo each had a goal and at least two assists as the Leafs struck four times on 14 shots in the first period.
“We’ve had a lot of chemistry and before this (team slump of four goals in four games), we got a lot bounces and chances,” Marner said. “James was the only one putting them in. It’s nice when those chances come back to you. Hopefully it just builds into the next couple of games.”
The Leafs couldn’t miss so many small fry in the stands with regular ticket holders asked to bring a youth as their guest to ring in the club’s new century. Van Riemsdyk laughed as he watched ushers trying to keep the kids back from the players’ tunnel. Two teams of Toronto area youths skated out for the national anthems as part of the pregame show, while others stood with the coaching staff on each bench.
With Marner not looking much older than the crowd demographic, Babcock said elders on the bench couldn’t resist razzing him.
“I heard the shots,” Babcock said with a laugh. “It was ‘Mitch, you were really going in the first period because your classmates are here and you’re trying to impress them,’ and ‘First time you’re not playing after your bed time?’
“He was really going and it was a good night for the guys. Leo (Komarov) hadn’t scored in forever, Willy (Nylander) hadn’t scored in forever, (Connor) Carrick hadn’t scored in forever and (Kasperi) Kapanen scored and he hasn’t been in the league.”
Babcock was wrong again about Carolina and his club giving each other no room to operate with 27 total goals in the now-completed three-game series. He just hopes the Leafs save something on the road for Columbus Wednesday and against the New York Rangers Saturday before the Christmas break.
The early fireworks featured Komarov’s short-handed snap under the bar, Marner’s to the blocker side, van Riemsdyk on a Bozak rebound and Bozak’s tap-in after Marner’s crafty stick work. The three varieties of goals, both special teams and one even strength, were the first for the Leafs in one period since a win in New Jersey last January, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Marner’s jump returned as did his creative moves, where no space appeared available. He was draw- ing all the Canes’ attention to create openings for his linemates. His fourth point was a helper on 38-year-old Patrick Marleau’s 12th. Nylander, Kapanen and Carrick cleaned up with Jeff Skinner the only one to beat Frederik Andersen on 33 shots.
“Sometimes the puck goes in and sometimes it doesn’t,” Babcock said of matching a season-high eight goals.