Leafs starting to show more physical side
AFTER FIRST-ROUND EXITS, TEAM TOUGHENS UP
It’s doubtful the Toronto Maple Leafs go into the playoffs swinging sticks and fists like drunken sailors on shore leave.
Fighting is already on the wane in the NHL and almost never surfaces once the big tournament starts. So Wayne Simmonds stalking Alex Edler of the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, Joe Thornton’s ill temper of late and even Rasmus Sandin’s reverse hit on Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets are meant more as a message that the Leafs will not hesitate initiating physical play, versus being on the receiving end as in recent first-round series losses to Washington, Boston and Columbus.
If the Leafs do meet a healthy Montreal Canadiens lineup, then some sort of intimidation will be a factor with skill players on both rosters. And bodies will most certainly be flying if Toronto gets to a second round to meet a team as large as Winnipeg.
As for Simmonds, who was not made available to the media on Thursday, he must have thought Edler’s two-game NHL suspension for kneeing Zach Hyman and his contrite explanation afterward were not enough.
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said he’d not expected that kind of carryover from the April 18 hit that sidelined Hyman, the first of two Leaf losses in Vancouver.
“Nothing was really talked about beforehand or anything like that and it caught me a little bit off guard. But I think anyone who has been around the game kind of knew what was happening there. Credit for Wayne to step up and at the same time, to Edler to participate in that.
“That’s part of what Wayne brings to a team. Little things like that are in the fabric of our game, are part of a team and what brings a team together. His teammates appreciate it and it set a good tone for the (win).”
NEW BLUE ON BLUELINE
A couple of weeks ago, when the Leafs had lost five straight and goalkeeping was shaky, the thought of introducing Sandin and Timothy Liljegren on defence in the same game would’ve seemed risky.
But with a playoff spot clinched, Keefe put the two Swedes into action Thursday along with recently acquired veteran Ben Hutton, resting Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin.
“It creates more opportunity for everybody, but with Rasmus, it was natural to give him that added responsibility and get him going,” Keefe said. “TJ Brodie paired with Rasmus was exceptional, not only for Rasmus, but for our entire defence. To have him get used to his new teammates and for Liljegren to step in (as Justin Holl’s partner) and us not miss a beat defensively is a great sign for our team.”
The 6-foot-2 Hutton, in his first game since the trade from Anaheim, had a mile wide gaptoothed grin afterward. In his 22 minutes of ice time, he resisted any urges to show off as he, Sandin and Holl led the Leafs with three shot blocks each.
“I’ve patiently waited for my number to get called,” Hutton said.
While the Prescott-born Hutton grew up neither a Leaf nor Ottawa Senators fan, there’s a lot of blue and white among his friends and family.
“I got a lot of texts before the game, wishing me luck and telling me to make the Leafs (proud). Two points for us, I couldn’t ask for a better start.”
MARLIES UNLEASHED
The AHL Marlies return to action Saturday afternoon at Coca Cola Coliseum against Belleville after a two-week shutdown, right into a grind of 13 games in 20 days. Defenceman Joe Duszak said Friday it will be hard to go from idle to game intensity, but insists his team is pumped.
“Like Dennis Rodman says, you don’t put a saddle on a mustang. So we’re back to hockey and ready to go.”
Coach Greg Moore has Nick Robertson and Martin Marincin returning from the Leafs taxi squad after the parent club added its trade deadline acquisitions. Moore also must grade new farmhands Antti Suomela, defenceman Brennan Kapcheck and goalie Veini Vehvalainen.
“We have a lot of guys in different (stages),” Moore said. “Whether they’ve been here all season or joining us from overseas, it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. We’re working through what’s best for our team and individual development. Day to day (lineups), there’ll be different dynamics and situations.
“(Re-starting after two weeks) is not a challenge as much an advantage to see how mentally and physically fresh we are and excited to play. Who knows where the other teams in our division are in terms of wear and tear?”
LOOSE LEAFS
The Leafs had Friday off ... With Auston Matthews closing in on the Rocket Richard Trophy with 36 goals, NHL Stats calculates him with 0.78 goals a game so far this year in his 46 appearances. That’s on pace to be the fourth-highest in league history behind Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin. Lemieux was 1.15 in 1992-93, the league record ... David Rittich’s victory Thursday gave the Leafs four goalies with at least one win in a single season for the first time since 2009-10. That’s when Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson debuted and won 16, the departing Vesa Toskala seven, J.S. Giguere six and farmhand Joey Macdonald one ... It’s likely Jack Campbell is in net for the rematch with Vancouver on Saturday.