Leafs and Jets get into that playoff state of mind
Nasty edge to Toronto's win on Thursday shows North rivals ready for crunch time
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets have two games remaining against each other — one Saturday, and one at the end of the schedule — and those contests could well decide first place and maybe one protracted playoff run.
So, why not turn up the temperature now? There certainly were some sore feelings on both sides after the Leafs won on Thursday to take a 5-3 lead in the season series. After getting captain Blake Wheeler back from concussion, the Jets lost checking centre Adam Lowry, who was unprepared for an Alex Galchenyuk hit.
“It looked late and high,” Wheeler said after the game. “I mean, (Lowry) is six inches taller than him, so you've got to get pretty high to get him.”
The Jets' Mathieu Perreault was also shaken by an unexpected run-in with Jumbo Joe Thornton. No penalty was called on Galchenyuk, but Thornton got two for interference and the maximum loose change fine of $3,017.24 from the NHL for that brand of contact.
All that was preceded by Winnipeg 's Pierre-luc Dubois digging at a rebound Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell was trying to cover. Given Campbell was already injured this year by Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk during an aggressive crease pileup, Wayne Simmonds came in and worked Dubois over. On Friday, Simmonds rejected the insinuation the Leafs had crossed the line in the game.
“Every time we've played them, they've tried to run us out of the building to start the game,” said Simmonds. “So we come back, be physical, and now we're a dirty team? I don't buy that. I just think we're defending ourselves, we're playing the game physical, and it's playoff hockey.
“We're coming down to crunch time. Every game we play has to be like last night.”
Simmonds was assessed two minutes for knocking Dubois around, but didn't care.
“I'm sick of guys jumping on our goalie, being allowed to spear him after a play, and the refs not calling it.”
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said conduct in post-whistle scrums isn't as vital to him as embracing team toughness when battling for pucks and position. Simmonds, Thornton, Zach Bogosian and now Nick Foligno and Ben Hutton were all brought in to provide a mental and physical edge for the playoffs that the Leafs have lacked.
“(The Campbell incident), those are things that happen in a game, and players like (Simmons) take care of that,” Keefe said. “I still feel we need to be more physical, but I'm talking on the puck, on defence. We have areas to grow. At times we've done it well, but we're looking to be better, everybody on our team, to be physical in the things that really matter, protecting the puck, creating space, defending your net, defending space and creating space.”
BOGO BOUNCED 4 WEEKS
The charmed life the Leafs have led with no major injuries to their top six defencemen has ended.
An MRI on Bogosian after he slammed into the end boards in Vancouver on Tuesday revealed a shoulder injury that will keep him out a minimum four weeks. That threatens his status for the start of the playoffs, projected to begin the week of May 17.
“His rehab process begins and we'll try to get him to full health as soon as we can,” Keefe said.
“He's played very well for us this season and delivered on what we wanted, stability with our third pair (with Travis Dermott), penalty kill minutes, a different look to our defence, and of course, the experience of winning the cup last year with Tampa Bay. So, certainly you feel that absence.
“I know he'll do everything he can, and our medical team will do everything possible to get him back up and running as soon as possible.”
Keefe noted young Rasmus Sandin was the only other longterm injury on defence this year, breaking his foot during his stint with the AHL Marlies. He had just returned to the Leafs on Tuesday as Bogosian's partner and did well enough after the veteran exited to warrant starting Thursday, with Dermott returning as the right-side partner.
“We've remained incredibly healthy on defence all season,” agreed Keefe. “But this does provide Sandin more of an opportunity down the stretch (nine regular-season games remain) and we'll get a look at Dermott on the right side.
“We added Hutton (at the trade deadline) for a situation such as this, and we have others. Timothy Liljegren (now on the taxi squad) hasn't had an opportunity to play yet, Martin Marincin has been able to come in and play very well for us. We have an abundance of depth we feel pretty good about.
“We've had other injuries this year (winger Zach Hyman is currently out a couple of weeks, as is goalie Frederik Andersen) and we've found a way to press on. This will be no different.”
The 30-year-old Bogosian was skating hard to retrieve a puck when his legs got tangled up and he crashed into the boards. If his Us$1-million cap hit goes to long-term injured reserve, it will give the Leafs some added salary flexibility in the coming weeks.