Hainsey likely to get Cup ring on Saturday
Ron Hainsey had not yet received official confirmation, but the Leafs defenceman expected he will be presented with his 2017 Stanley Cup ring at some point when the Leafs visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
“It would be great,” Hainsey said. “It’s hard to believe it’s almost six months coming up since the middle of June (when Hainsey and the Penguins beat the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on June 11 to win the Cup).
“It went by quick. From the end of February (when the Carolina Hurricanes traded him to Pittsburgh) to now, it has been a fast nine months. I haven’t been sitting around thinking about going back because we’ve been so busy, but it will be great to see everyone.”
Though Hainsey was a teammate of Sidney Crosby for just a few months, the Penguins captain’s work ethic rubbed off.
“It was tremendous, the whole group,” Hainsey said. “He sets the tone. He has set the tone for the league for 12 years, or whatever it is. Certainly, it was great to be a part of that for that stretch.”
Small taste of home
When the Leafs play host to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, it will mark one of three home dates for Toronto in the month of December, compared to 10 on the road.
In 13 home games in 2017-18, the Leafs hold a record of 8-5-0.
“Sometimes you get a little cuter at home and cute doesn’t lead to winning a whole lot of hockey games,” Babcock said. “We have to do a better job here at home, getting ourselves re-established. We should be a dominant, dominant home team.”
The Leafs’ schedule in January is the opposite, more or less, as they play eight games at home and four on the road.
Loose Leafs
The subtleties of Hainsey’s game in the defensive zone bring applause from goaltender Frederik Andersen. “He does a lot of smart, small plays,” Andersen said. “Little plays that (make Andersen’s job easier). He’ll get a stick on a pass or make a little chip for a good breakout. He’s a great guy to have and he has elevated Morgan’s play too.” … In the Flames’ lone visit to Toronto last season, Andersen made 26 saves and Mitch Marner scored the winning goal in a 4-0 Leafs win on Jan. 23.