Leafs fortunate to have gem in Brown ... Five consecutive first-rounders in lineup ... Hutton filling in just fine for Allen ... Dermott’s number change a mystery
More than any other Leaf, Connor Brown has had reason to complain.
He is by no means a fourth-liner, yet he’s playing on the fourth line. He’s an offensive talent playing with those of little offensive skill. He has been the good soldier and Tuesday night the Leafs benefitted from his numerous skills.
The shorthanded goal Brown scored in the third period demonstrated three sides of his talents — first deflecting a puck that bounced past all-star Alex
Pietrangelo, then lifting a stick, then utilizing his speed to race in on a breakaway and finishing it off by beating Carter Hutton up high.
A terrific goal that should have given the Leafs a win for a kid who just turned 24 on Sunday.
Instead, a 2-1 overtime defeat.
HOMEGROWN
With Frederik Gauthier now playing with the Leafs, Toronto has five consecutive first-round draft picks in its lineup, which is unusual considering the draft history of the club. In order, the Leafs took Morgan Rielly in 2012, Gauthier in 2013, William Nylander in 2014, Mitch Marner in 2015 and Auston Matthews from 2016. The 2017 pick, Timothy Liljegren, is currently playing for the Marlies.
IT’S A SLUMP
It’s official: Nazem Kadri isn’t just snakebit. It’s a slump. A long one. After scoring 13 goals in the first two months of the season, Kadri has one goal in the past two months, which includes more than half of January. Kadri, who remains on the Leafs top power play, had two excellent scoring chances in the first two periods but Blues starter Carter Hutton was sharp on both chances.
In a couple of other offensive possibilities, Kadri was quick was to pass first. This is what happens when your confidence is flailing, which is unusual for Kadri.
Not everything is going wrong for Kadri. He won all five of his faceoffs in the first period.
THE NON-OLYMPICS
St. Louis general manager
Doug Armstrong admits to being wistful that NHL players aren’t heading to Pyeongchang for the Olympic Games. Armstrong, who has been involved with Team Canada in a variety of capacities in the past, understands the why, and the league view and all that goes with it, but admits he wishes it wasn’t so. The closer it gets to the Games, the more he is missing NHL involvement.
THIS AND THAT
Regular starter Jake Allen has been on a terrible streak for St. Louis. He is just 1-8 in past nine starts, and the only win coming against Vancouver. Allen started the season 7-3. Hutton, formerly the backup, started in goal for the Blues ... What a pickup
Brayden Schenn has been for the Blues. The 26-year-old was moved permanently to centre by coach Mike Yeo and has been central to St. Louis’ offence. Schenn has 17 goals and 27 assists after 46 games. Schenn has 55 points last season playing the wing in Philadelphia ... Travis Der
mott made his debut wearing the No. 23 for the Leafs, the latest mystery of sorts surrounding the Leafs. The rookie wore No. 3 in his first two games before the fiveday break in the schedule, and when he returned from a weekend stint with the Marlies he was given the No. 23. He doesn’t know why. And whoever knows why isn’t saying ... After 45 games last season, Mitch Marner had 11 goals, 28 assists for 39 points. Going into Tuesday night’s, he had just five goals and 26 assists for 31 points. Percentage wise that means Marner’s production is down 20% from a year ago but coach
Mike Babcock isn’t concerned. Babcock was quick to point out that Nylander is two points ahead of where he was at this point a year ago ... Babcock is a slight bit hesitant in praising the progress made by Rielly has made this season. He knows this is the best Rielly has ever played and wants to credit Rielly and his partner Ron Hainsey. Hainsey has been a terrific stabilizing force for Rielly ... Rielly made a terrific defensive play in the third period, preventing Ivan Barbashev from getting a breakaway in a 0-0 game ... In the morning, Babcock also said how much he likes Jake Gardiner playing with Nikita Zaitsev. What he didn’t say was how much he loves Gardiner playing with Connor Carrick, his current partner ... Blues’ Pietrangelo, a local product, is in the Norris Trophy conversation for NHL’s best defenceman. He’s not likely to win the award, but with favourite
Victor Hedman out, there is an opening ... When is a hit not a hit? Apparently, when the player being hit doesn’t have the puck. Leafs’ Matt
Martin crushed Kyle Brodziak in the first period, but it didn’t register as a hit. Joked one observer: “If he had done that when he was an Islander, they would have counted three hits for it.” ... Among those in attendance on Tuesday included Blues executive Martin Brodeur, who spent some time in the afternoon with his old GM, Lou
Lamoriello ... What Nylander needs to learn: How to utilize his speed to drive the net and make it more difficult for the opposition ... At the halfway point in the game, the Leafs had given up 23 shots against. That’s way too many. The Leafs settled down in the second half of the game and gave up few shots ... In addition to his work with the Blues, Brodeur was part of the Team Canada selection process for the upcoming Winter Olympics ... Making a rare trip with St. Louis was
Bob Plager, who played for the Blues, coached the Blues, worked in the front office and scouting department for years, and has long been one of the sport’s best storytellers. Plager is 74 years young.