‘Heaviest line’ given the credit for fuelling Toronto’s offence
Listed (perhaps generously) at 6-feet and 175 pounds, Mitch Marner would not be anyone’s definition of “heavy.” But when it comes to cycling the puck deep in the offensive zone, that’s exactly how head coach Mike Babcock described him, along with sixfoot-one and 210-pound John Tavares and Zach Hyman. “They’re our heaviest line by a long ways,” Babcock said of the trio, who have combined for 14 goals this season. “They spend more time in the offensive zone than the other lines. We need them to continue to grow in that area.”
For the first several games, Toronto did most of its damage off the rush. But with more and more teams slowing up the Leafs in the neutral zone, Babcock has urged the players to generate scoring opportunities in a variety of different ways.
It hasn’t been easy. Playing the cycle can be physically taxing, especially for a team that only has two players tipping the scales at 220 pounds or more. But Babcock said that you don’t need to be heavy to necessarily play heavy.
“It’s a myth for sure,” he said of the idea that only big players can cycle the puck with success. “But the more skill you have, the lighter you can be. But light doesn’t mean you play light. You have to be heavy on the puck. Some guys you can’t take the puck off of, and other guys play light, so that means they don’t have the puck all the time. They’re one and done.
“In order to be successful, you have to be heavy.” Marner, who was tied for eighth in league scoring with 19 points in 15 games, was also tied for third with 19 takeaways this season.
SHOOTOUT PRACTICE FOR LEAFS — JUST IN CASE
The Leafs spent the end of Thursday’s practice working on their shootout moves. As one of 13 teams that have yet to reach the overtime shootout, it’s something they haven’t had to worry about.
“Hopefully, we don’t need to get to that point,” said Marner. “Hopefully, we don’t need any shootouts, but I mean I’m sure it will happen one of these games. You just have to be ready for it. I mean, the ice isn’t always going to be great, so that’s not really an excuse.” Toronto went 7-2 in the shootout last season, though former Leafs centre Tyler Bozak was the team’s most successful at it, having scored on five of six attempts.
HALL STILL HAS LOTS OF TIME TO HEAT UP
Reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall has three goals and 15 points after 13 games this season.
That’s not far off from the five goals and 17 points that he had at this point last year. But remember, it was not until January when he really heated up and went on a 26-game point streak, scoring 18 goals and 38 points in a historic run into the second week of March.
With a goal and an assist in the past two games, this could be the beginning of another streak.
DEVILS’ OFFENCE GETTING HELP
According to Devils head coach Jon Hynes, the team will see the return of Jesper Bratt for Friday’s game against the Maple Leafs.
Bratt scored 13 goals for New Jersey as a rookie last season, but has missed all 13 games this year after breaking his jaw in the pre-season. For a team that has relied on the top line of Hall, Kyle Palmieri and Nico Hischier for 38 per cent of the offence, the 20-year-old will be a welcome addition, especially with Pavel Zacha back in the minors.
MALKIN SIDESTEPS SUSPENSION, FINE FOR TAKING (!) A HIT
It made zero sense that Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin received a match penalty in Wednesday’s game for making contact with T.J. Oshie’s head on a play where the Washington player was the one delivering the bodycheck. The league, which decided not to suspend or fine Malkin, apparently agreed.