Penguins rain on parade
Keefe’s two-year anniversary was no party as Leafs’ win streak ends at five
It wasn’t the way Sheldon Keefe would have mapped out the twoyear anniversary of his hiring as head coach of the Maple Leafs.
But he’s certainly come away with a grudging respect for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the first team to beat the Leafs twice this season after grinding out a 2-0 decision Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Jake Guentzel and Jeff Carter gave Pittsburgh a two-goal lead in the first period and they never looked back, while the Leafs’ big stars struggled to create scoring chances.
“I think our guys wanted it just as bad. We just lost to a good team that played better than us,” said Keefe. “We got what we deserved in terms of our offence. We just didn’t make enough happen offensively.”
Toronto’s five-game win streak came to an end. Despite the loss, Keefe’s record — 74-35-13 — is still pretty good. It’s a winning points percentage of 65.9 per cent, the best in franchise history and secondbest in league history among coaches with at least 100 games.
The 74 wins rank 16th on the Leafs list, one behind Roger Neilson and two behind Paul Maurice. The team feels lucky to have him.
“His ability to articulate the game and the way he wants us to play, or prepare for our opponent, is as good advice as I’ve seen from a coach as a player,” said Leafs centre John Tavares. “He understands our group, especially the guys that have been here for a few years, and will continue to push us and try to find a way to continue to fight at a high level and get to where we want to get to.”
But Saturday’s effort was far from what Keefe demands. It was filled missed passes, missed shots, missed opportunities and sloppy defensive plays reminiscent of their hauntingly bad start to the season. The Leafs got chances as the game went on, but their struggles scoring at even strength continue.
“It didn’t feel to me like the lines were an issue; the Pittsburgh Penguins were an issue,” said Keefe. “We had to play through difficult circumstances and find ways to get to the net. And we just weren’t able to do that.”
The Leafs power play had four chances — including a five-onthree for one minute, 49 seconds late in the third — but failed to connect. Keefe will have to get them working on creating better
chances in five-on-five situations.
“Concern is not the right word, because we’ve been finding ways to win a lot of games,” Keefe said of his team’s play at even strength. “But it’s tough. We’ve got to find ways to generate a lot more, make good on the chances we do get.”
■ Early edge: The Penguins were the better team in the first, and deserved a 2-0 lead. Guentzel’s opportunity came by outhustling defenceman Justin Holl in the neutral zone. Jack Campbell made the initial save, but Guentzel got another chance a few seconds later and went five-hole. Carter was gifted an empty net when Campbell overplayed Jason Zucker on the rush. Zucker passed to Carter instead of shooting.
The Penguins maintained that margin in the second period, expert at keeping the Leafs to the perimeter at five-on-five. The Leafs had one power play in the period and got a few chances, but Tristan Jarry kept them off the board.
“We made two mistakes and it cost us in the first period. We allowed them to score first and take control of the game. It’s uphill from there,” said Keefe.
■ Lasting memories: On their minds as they came into the game was the last time the teams met. The Leafs were embarrassed in Pittsburgh, 7-1. To add insult to injury, it was an undermanned Penguins squad without seven regulars, including Sidney Crosby.
“You never really forget those games,” said Leafs defenceman T.J. Brodie. “But we’re a different team now. We’re playing a lot better, more the way that we’re capable of.”
Indeed, the Leafs lost their next game in Carolina, but stanched the bleeding in Chicago and have been on a run since because of, as Brodie put it, a combination of elements.
“The main thing is just getting five guys on the same page,” he said. “The forwards have been doing a really good job getting back and putting that pressure on other teams, and that allows us to stay up as defencemen. We have that protective layer taking away the middle.”
■ Respect for Sid: While the Penguins have been middling at best since that encounter, they got Crosby back after wrist surgery. Crosby gets a lot of attention from the other side, and garners a lot of respect.
“You’re talking about one of the best players in history, and certainly probably the best player of this generation,” said Tavares. “He’s as accomplished as anybody, as driven as anybody. One of the hardest matchups to have, and I’ve had some good battles over the years.
“We played against each other in playoffs once. Wasn’t on the right end of that one, but had some good games and I’ve seen him at his best. Such a special player. So you have to be at a certain level to compete against a player like that.”
It didn’t feel to me like the lines were an issue; the Pittsburgh Penguins were an issue.
SHELDON KEEFE, LEAFS COACH