Leafs are building an energy line for fuel

Engvall, Mikheyev and Hyman led the team in several key metrics in Saturday’s win over the Oilers

Overshadowed by goalie Jack Campbell’s shutout performance for the Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Edmonton was the impact of their third line.

Pierre Engvall, Ilya Mikheyev and Zach Hyman led the team in several key metrics — time with the puck in the offensive zone, controlled offensive-zone entries and defensive-zone exits — in the 4-0 win. They helped make up for the absence of injured star centre Auston Matthews. And they impressed coach Sheldon Keefe, who has been searching for an energy line outside the top six forwards to wear out opposing defences.

“They had a lot of speed, a lot of tenacity on the puck,” said Keefe. “We like it on the road especially, when matchups are difficult. And having a line like that, that you can feel pretty good about … we’ll look to see that continue.”

The unit with Engvall at centre, however, isn’t a lock to stay together.

If Matthews returns to the lineup Monday, for the Leafs’ second of three games in Edmonton, it could bump centre Alex Kerfoot back down from the second line, while Hyman has most often skated in the top six with John Tavares and William Nylander. Matthews was on the ice Sunday but didn’t take part in regular line rushes. His status for Monday was still undecided. Hyman, Engvall and Mikheyev continued to practise as a unit Sunday.

Injuries and ice time for players on the taxi squad have led to frequent line changes. But Keefe’s comments on the need for a third-line spark, which can also play a major role in the playoffs, suggest he’s open to stabilizing that part of the lineup.

What opened everyone’s eyes Saturday was the fact the Hyman (34 seconds), Engvall (32), and Mikheyev (26) emerged as the team’s top three players in five-on-five offensive zone possession time. Engvall (five) and Hyman (four) also led in controlled offensive-zone entries at five-on-five and Hyman was tops with nine defensive-zone exits.

Keefe has been trying to find the right fit for Mikheyev in particular, one of the NHL’s top chance creators on the penalty kill and a team leader in forechecking, and puck retrieval.

While Mikheyev has played up and down the lineup, he’s definitely a regular, like Hyman. Engvall, who began the season in a battle to avoid the taxi squad, played nine consecutive games in February after starting only four in January.

The energy line could remain a melting pot for all three.

“(Engvall) is finding more comfort in his game,” said Keefe.

“He’s playing more consistently of late. I think Mikheyev is really, really coming on here, with the puck and without the puck. Just skating and disrupting plays, making plays, getting us down in the offensive zone. It’s been very good. And we’ve always talked about Hyman and what he can get done, no matter what line he’s on.

“It’s just the three of them working well on that. But certainly, Pierre’s game is rounding into form for us. There’s areas where we want him to continue to find consistency, especially with his physicality, but he brings a lot of things to our lineup that (help).”