DEMKO LOOKING TO RUIN LEAFS' FLIGHT HOME
Canucks goalie in the zone after blanking Jets and silencing Toronto's big guns
The Toronto Maple Leafs' desire is to have a celebratory mood permeate their flight home from the West Coast this weekend.
They're going to have to find a way to beat Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko on Saturday night for that to happen.
A trip that started with a sound three-game sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, during which the Leafs allowed just one goal and gave up nothing to Connor Mcdavid, stalled with a twogoal loss on Thursday to the Canucks.
Demko was the story for the home side, making 31 saves. The Leafs had 13 high-danger chances but only Pierre Engvall was able beat the 6-foot-4 Demko.
“Demmer is a great goalie,” Leafs superstar Auston Matthews said. “He's big, takes up a lot of space, and since the bubble and the playoffs last year, he has really come into his own.”
Matthews and William Nylander each had five shots on goal on Thursday to lead the Leafs. Matthews had what would have been his 19th goal of the season on his stick late in the game, but hit the post.
Bothered by right wrist/hand issues, Matthews has gone four games without scoring a goal. It's his longest goal drought since Nov. 27-Dec. 4, 2019, when he played in five consecutive games without scoring.
“We have to find a way to get some more pucks in around the net,” Leafs captain John Tavares said. “They do a good job around their net, too. They defend hard.”
Canucks coach Travis Green didn't say on Friday that Demko would remain in the Vancouver net, but that's the expectation. Before he frustrated the Leafs on Thursday, Demko made 27 saves in a shutout victory over Winnipeg on Monday.
Frederik Andersen, expected to start in goal for the Leafs on Saturday, has a career record of 13-2-5 with a .942 save percentage against the Canucks. This season, Andersen is 3-0 with .937 save percentage versus Vancouver. A win by the Leafs, who have an Nhl-best record of 18-5-2 through 25 games, would equal the most prolific 26-game start in franchise history in both points and victories. In 1934-35, the Leafs won 3-2 in Chicago in their 26th game to improve to 19-5-2 and 40 points
REST EASY
The Leafs had a day off on Friday, and deservedly so, considering the game on Thursday night completed a stretch of four games in six nights.
“A day's rest certainly is going to help us,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That's a no-brainer.”
Once the Leafs and Canucks finish their set, the Leafs will play host to the Winnipeg Jets for three games starting next Tuesday.
Following that set, there will be a rare opportunity — two, in fact — for Keefe to get some consistent teaching done.
After the Leafs pop up to Ottawa to play the Senators March 14, they'll have four days off between games, play host to the Calgary Flames on back-to-back nights, and then have another four days off from March 21-24 inclusive.
FITTING IN
Alex Galchenyuk appears to be finding his groove with the AHL'S Toronto Marlies through two games.
“He's a great teammate, he has done everything we've asked,” Marlies coach Greg Moore said on Friday before Toronto played host to the Stockton Heat at the Coca-cola Coliseum. “He has been a pleasure to have on the team.”
Galchenyuk, acquired by the Leafs from Carolina on Feb. 15 and sent to the Marlies to rediscover his game and confidence, had an assist in each of his first two games with the farm club. The Toronto organization is hopeful that Galchenyuk, the third pick in the 2012 NHL draft, can accomplish enough in the minors to earn a legitimate shot with the Leafs.
LOOSE LEAFS
The Canucks' Elias Pettersson remains day to day with an upper-body injury, Green said. Pettersson, who has 21 points in 26 games, did not practise on Friday after sitting out on Thursday … Walter Gretzky, who died on Thursday at the age of 82, should be in the builder category in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Wayne Gretzky has said in the past his skills in the game were “Wally-given,” not God-given. We all know Gretzky was a revolutionary player; his impact on the game helped the sport take a foothold in the southwestern United States. Without his dad's guidance, would Gretzky's impression on the game have been as wide on and off the ice? Doubtful. “Walter Gretzky's influence on our league and our game was profound,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. Then elect the elder Gretzky, who received loud ovations each time cameras showed him in his seat at Leafs games, to the Hall … With 955 points in the NHL, Leafs veteran centre Jason Spezza needs five to move into 100th place in scoring history. Kirk Muller is in 100th with 959 points, but Spezza would have to hold off Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals. Backstrom is in 104th with 952 points.