More power plays key: Babcock
The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the NHL’s lowest rankings for time spent on the power play, but in a roundabout way, it’s something they must earn.
Coach Mike Babcock equated some of the club’s recent struggles scoring with an extra man — they dropped a few places in success percentage while on their break — to not pressing enough to draw calls. In Tuesday’s loss to St. Louis, the officials whistled one penalty on the Blues.
“We have to spend more time rolling around in the offensive zone,” Babcock said. “When you do that, it forces more teams to make more mistakes. But I thought the game was well-officiated (the Blues had just two power plays).”
James van Riemsdyk, the Leafs’ most potent power-play performer, said they should concentrate on moving the puck faster.
“When things are going well for us, we are making those plays confidently and quickly,” van Riemsdyk said, “making quick reads and just getting the puck to the net and being in spots around the net.
“I don’t think it’s anything magical. We’re five smart players who read off each other. That’s when things are going their best, when those other things are seamless.”
BIG E SEND-OFF
A few Leafs were looking forward to the Eric Lindros sweater retirement ceremony on Thursday in Philadelphia.
“I remember from when he sat out (at the draft), when he got traded, when he played in the Olympics, to how dominant he was as a player, and his injuries,” Babcock said. “I’ve talked to him and his brother (ex-NHLer Brett) a few times around Toronto. He was as dynamic a player there was in the game and it’s obvious it’s very special that they’re going to honour him like they should. The fans really embrace those sorts of things.”
Van Riemsdyk got to meet the Big E once when he was a Flyer himself.
“It was cool to watch him play. I remember those (Ranger-Flyer) games. He was a guy you hated playing against and a guy you loved to have on your team.”