Holl blasted online, but Keefe has last word

Justin Holl would have done very well Friday to heed the Maple Leafs’ advice to unplug from the social media world while in the midst of an intense playoff series.

Holl has not been popular in social media circles, where it has been pointed out repeatedly that the Leafs defenceman has been on the ice for 14 of the 19 goals the Tampa Bay Lightning have scored in the first five games of their first-round series.

That has presented a Game 6 conundrum for Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe: Should he go with seven defencemen and 11 forwards instead of the normal six-12 setup? That might allow Keefe to maximize

Holl’s strengths — penalty-killing and shot-blocking — while countering his weaknesses.

Keefe also has to be concerned about defenceman Mark Giordano, who has been on the ice for one fewer goals against than Holl, and who took a nasty hit from behind from Patrick Maroon in Game 5 Thursday.

“We’re looking at everything,” the coach said. “There are a couple of things happening with some of our players in terms of injury. That will play itself out throughout the day and probably part of tomorrow.

Keefe is facing perhaps his most important decision of this series in deciding on the makeup of his blue line for Game 6. Will he risk inserting Timothy Liljegren in Holl’s place and try to close out this series with a blueliner who hasn’t yet played in it.

Holl’s play and Giordano’s condition may ultimately force his hand into a change, or extend his belief that both can and will be better.

“Keeping guys in front of you, not letting guys get in behind. That would be a big one,” Keefe said of the needed adjustments. “But those guys have done a really good job for us all season. Some guys have taken a step backwards, some guys have taken a big step forward. This time of the year, the challenge of the opponent affects everybody differently. Certainly those guys have been and can be better again.”

Keefe didn’t care for the Maroon hit: “I think (Giordano is) doing OK today, but in terms of the hit itself, any time there’s hits in the numbers, you’re concerned.”

Holl’s numbers, depending on who you listen to, range from unflattering to a principal reason the Leafs have failed to close out this series. But he has been a key part of the Leafs’ consistency. He was second on the team in blocked shots during the regular season — with 139, behind Giordano’s 147 — and first among defencemen with 151 hits. Both numbers were career highs for Holl.

Holl is also one of the most popular players in the dressing room, and the Leafs needed to work on their mindset Friday before heading off to Tampa for Saturday’s Game 6.

“I came into the room and there was a lot of chatter, which is a good sign,” Keefe said.