Salming’s presence lifts Leafs
Borje Salming was such a positive influence on the Maple Leafs for so many Saturday nights.
By just making his way to centre ice to drop a puck for this one was he able to bring the building to its feet and — eventually — inspire his team to a win.
That included the six Swedes coach Sheldon Keefe started in Salming’s honour and the rest of the roster demographic, who watched their beloved defenceman struggle with debilitating Lou Gehrig’s Disease, but manage to raise a hand to acknowledge another long ovation.
Fittingly, it was a few of those Scandinavians who helped rally the Leafs for a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks
Keefe was hoping at some point during these back-toback home games, that Salming’s appearance would give them a lift.
“Any time you have your own alumni (honoured) and you see the reaction of the fans, see the reaction of our players, you feel part of the family, part of the legacy,” Keefe said. “You see how important, how impactful players can be on our city.
“Borje is obviously a legend here. It’s one thing to see his name (on a retired No. 21 banner at Scotiabank Arena), on Legends Row or see the person here and at this stage of his life. It’s a different era of Leaf fans, but it’s still here.
“It’s not just to honour the legacy of Borje, it’s all part of their own legacy and you want to be remembered.”
After seeing the reception for Salming on Friday’s Hall of Fame game, Keefe hit on the all-swedish starters for his Toronto tribute and read them out before the game — William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, Pierre Engvall up front, Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin on defence, Erik Kallgren in net.
“All of us just looked at each other, just smiling,” Sandin said. “We all talked about it, that it was tough for all of us to hold back tears tonight and yesterday. The win tonight was definitely for Borje.”
It would’ve been picture perfect if one of the five skaters scored on that opening shift as they were the last Leafs to fist bump Salming as he and his family exited the ice after a touching video tribute to his two decades in the Gardens era.
Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau, one-time roommate of Salming, did his part for the opening faceoff sending out Oliver Ekman-larson for Salming’s ceremonial drop with Nylander.
Still, the Leafs were quickly down two — a lost draw by Engvall with Bo Horvat eluding Justin Holl to tip a Luke Schenn shot. Michael Bunting’s retaliation penalty helped J.T. Miller make it 2-0.
But after Auston Matthews settled some booing down with a power play goal, the Tre Kronor vibe gripped the bench, Engvall finishing off a good forecheck with help from Liljegren and Jarnkrok.
It also took the Leafs a while to get used to new lines and defence partners. Keefe broke up Matthews and Mitch Marner 5-on-5 as well as John Tavares and Nylander.
Engvall and Nylander were helping with a strong push that led to defenceman Jordie Benn’s winner halfway through the second, jumping up to pop in a backboard rebound. It was his first game as a Leaf after an early season injury as he finally got back in with a sore TJ Brodie getting a night off.
Benn, without a goal since Jan. 22 when he was with the Minnesota Wild, joked he didn’t know what to do after until Matthews hugged him.
“I told the guys to stay with it, find another level,” Keefe said of falling behind 2-0. “To me, we looked like the fresher, faster team in the third despite the back-to-back and as good a third with the lead as we’ve played (three penalty kills).”
Given a choice between using Kallgren on consecutive days back, playing Matt Murray a bit ahead of schedule from a healing groin injury or risking raw rookie Keith Petruzzelli, Keefe gambled Kallgren still had fuel and that the new lines would generate some 5-on-5 offence.
The night before, Kallgren did a credible job against the Penguins before allowing a weak winning goal.
Murray is now set to start against his old team, where he won two Stanley Cups, in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Ilya Samsonov, who played so well in Murray’s place last month, is still out with a knee injury.
Kallgren, who made 27 saves, now has two wins in eight games, with three of those overtime losses.
“A big win and a big night in many ways,” Kallgren said. “It was emotional.”
“It’s not just to honour the legacy of Borje, it’s all part of their own legacy and you want to be remembered.” Sheldon Keefe Maple Leafs coach