Leafs bond when rough stuff happens
‘THE ATTITUDE OF OUR TEAM HAS CHANGED A LOT THIS YEAR’
Max Domi had never met Bobby Mcmann until a few weeks ago, but jumped to his defence when sore loser Radko Gudas crosschecked him after a goal on Saturday versus the Ducks.
Simon Benoit used to play for Anaheim, but that didn’t stop him leading Toronto’s defence with five hits in the physical affair. Last month, amid his other payback hits when sensing a teammate is being targeted, Jake Mccabe fought Brandon Tanev of the Kraken after he’d rattled Timothy Liljegren.
And there was mild-mannered Morgan Rielly going rogue against Ottawa showboat Ridly Greig, albeit suspended five games for it.
“We’re trying to build a brotherhood here,” Benoit said. “I wouldn’t say we don’t know each other, but I think we’re getting to know each other. While doing that, it doesn’t mean I can’t defend a teammate.
“Max did it well Saturday, he thought it was a cheap shot while Bobby was on the floor, so he went at it (with Gudas). That’s how you build bonds and make a team out of random players.”
Another week of close quarters on this week’s road trip will help that process. It started Monday with a game in St. Louis.
“We’ll get to know each other, their families and their stories,” Benoit said.
Coach Sheldon Keefe also praised Domi for retaliating on Gudas after the two already had a first-period fight.
“I thought that was excellent and because we scored so much it was probably an understated part of the game. I love what Max did and Ryan Reaves’ presence, but the attitude of our team has changed a lot this year with those guys and (Tyler) Bertuzzi, Benoit and Mccabe’s presence on the back.
“They’ve all stepped up and done a really good job. There have been a couple of instances this season where there was a big deal about (the Leafs being intimidated), but I think in general we’ve handled those situations really well and those guys have (contributed).”
MAKING THEPOINTS
Keefe’s Leafs’ predecessor, Mike Babcock, preferred the concept of breaking the 82-game schedule into components, usually five-game windows, where the goal was to get six or more of a possible 10 points. Not Keefe, as the Leafs began busy stretch of five games in eight nights.
“I’ve never believed in that approach. When you do that, in my mind, you’re already sort of accepting that you’re going to lose points.
“I believe you should win every single game. Every point lost is a disappointment.”
WESTWARD WINS
We’ll see if the Leafs impressive performances against the West hold up the next two weeks with six straight games to come.
After dusting the Ducks, Toronto’s record is 18-5-2 across the street. Reaves was not willing to jinx that by getting too analytical.
“I’ve been on teams that dominated the other conference and ones that couldn’t get a win on that side. I don’t know how to explain it.
“Maybe it’s the air out West. Maybe it’s more sun there. Getting points out West is big, not as important as beating teams in your division, which is how you get separation.
“But in this situation, this time of year, all points are important. Teams are fighting for spots to get in or get a higher (seed) and players are fighting for jobs. You can’t take any team lightly.”
After this trip and home games against Vegas and Arizona, 22 of Toronto’s remaining 23 games are against the East, the exception a March 23 visit by Connor Mcdavid and the Oilers.
CRUISE CONTROL
It’s said a three-goal lead is the hardest to hold in hockey. So how complacent did the Leafs get, while up six before their eventual 9-2 win Saturday was half-complete?
“You try not to have bad habits that will allow momentum swings,” Keefe said of the rare luxury lead. “Limit how much you have to defend, manage the matchups to keep your guys healthy, use your bench.”
Though Auston Matthews had a hat trick and five points early, his ice time was scaled back and he didn’t play more than 15 minutes total.
LOOSE LEAFS
Keefe said the Leafs will have no time for practices on the road this week, which means a likely day off Tuesday in Phoenix before the game against the Coyotes. Matthews and linemate Matthew Knies are from the area and will no doubt host ... Keefe coached his 195th victory on Saturday, moving one ahead of Bob Gainey for 89th place in NHL career wins ... It’s actually not rare in Leaf annals that Matthews scored on his first shot against two different goalies in the same game on Saturday. That was accomplished 14 months ago by Alex Kerfoot. The strange coincidence is that Kerfoot did it against the same two Anaheim keepers, John Gibson and Lukas Dostal, but in reverse order of Matthews in a 7-0 home win on Dec. 13, 2022.