Mikheyev gets shot at prime ice time

With Simmonds out, goal-less Russian asked to fill power-play spot

It didn’t sound right at first.

After the Maple Leafs announced Monday that forward Wayne Simmonds would be sidelined six weeks with a broken wrist, they assigned Ilya Mikheyev to one of the team’s two power-play units to help fill the void.

Mikheyev? The same winger who hasn’t scored in 13 games this season? More duties on offence in the crease-front role that’s Simmonds’ signature?

Despite his lack of luck on the scoresheet this season, the Leafs did not hesitate in placing the second-year forward in that spot. His speed, size and stick reach make him a solid candidate.

“We think there’s some things he can do differently and do better,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said after Monday’s morning skate. “Getting more high-danger shots and utilizing his skills to get inside more … but there’s a lot of things he does that don’t involve creating offence (but) bring value to our team.”

Putting players in a position to succeed on offence is part of a coach’s duties.

To Keefe, Mikheyev has been part unlucky and part responsible for the scoring drought, by not using his six-foot-three frame and hockey gifts to greater advantage.

He had been on the ice for only three goals against at five-onfive heading into Monday night’s date with the Vancouver Canucks, tied with Jason Spezza for the fewest allowed among Leafs forwards with 50 or more minutes played.

But Mikheyev had also been on the ice for just two Toronto goals in those situations, a team low, despite a five-on-five workload (just over 146 minutes) that was in the top six among the team’s forwards.

Mikheyev has used his speed to help the Leafs keep the puck in the offensive zone. His inability to score and get himself into better scoring positions consistently, however, is something the coaching staff is aiming to solve.

He started the season on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander, then joined Alex Kerfoot and Zach Hyman. He now plays with Kerfoot and Jimmy Vesey, but only the unit with Hyman and Kerfoot outshot (16-11) and outscored (1-0) opponents at even strength.

“His work ethic is elite, his foot speed and well,” Kerfoot said. “He just puts so much pressure on opposition teams, no matter if he’s scoring or not. His transition game, he makes it hard on other teams.

“He wins a lot of races, he wins a lot of loose puck battles, and he creates a lot of space for his linemates.”

And yet, still no goals this season.

What Keefe wants is for Mikheyev to harness the gamebreaking skills he has shown while killing penalties. Among 59 NHL forwards with 10 or more minutes on the penalty kill this season, Mikheyev ranks fourth in scoring chances and rush chances per kill, and second in zone exits. Mikheyev is due.

“On the penalty kill, there’s a lot of open ice, and when (Mikheyev) get the puck on his hands, he’s so strong and fast, he can create separation from opposing players,” said Kerfoot, Mikheyev’s penalty-killing partner.

“He’s just created a lot of chances, and the goals will come.”