Boyd works his way onto power play
Forward making most of chances since starting season on the taxi squad
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe made an interesting move before his team’s game against Calgary on Wednesday.
After his elite power-play went an uncharacteristic 0for-7 against the Flames on Monday, Keefe inserted Travis Boyd into the net-front role that Wayne Simmonds and Joe Thornton had excelled at before they were injured.
Boyd, who started the season on the Leafs’ taxi squad and entered Wednesday with three power-play goals in 97 NHL games, seemed an interesting choice. The 27-year-old from Hopkins, Minn., has built his career on being a grinder. But he has also shown he can produce in limited opportunities and he has had good tutors on the power play, spending the past three years in Washington with Alex Ovechkin and company.
“We’ve got to get to (the front of the net) a lot better, be on offence a little more, and execute better on our power play,” Keefe said. “All of those things are going to make it harder on (the opposition) defence and goaltending.”
Boyd has earned every chance he is getting with the Leafs. He got a late start at a short training camp when he had to go into quarantine for 14 days after crossing the Canadian border.
“I put myself behind the eight ball by not ... having some time in training camp to get up to speed,” Boyd said. “For me, it was just needing to get into game shape quickly and trying to catch up with my conditioning.
“I was hoping to get a chance on the power play. It gives you confidence, you get into an offensive situation where you try (to) convert. Being out there with some skilled and extremely good players is always fun.”
Boyd has worked well with Jason Spezza on the fourth line, scoring three goals in his first 12 games — two in his last five entering Wednesday. He played a season-high 13 minutes and 26 seconds against Ottawa last Thursday.
His power-play time will likely depend on his success in the role, and the health of others, but his chemistry with the 37year-old Spezza is a solid block to build on.
“We have some very good chemistry, kind of one of those instant ones from the first day we practised together,” Boyd said.
“It’s a lot of fun, he’s been around the league, he’s played over 1,000 games, (he has) had a heck of a career.