Balmy climate, five-star eating places, ocean perspectives…
A bunch of 5 Toronto Maple Leafs — Mitch Marner, Petr Mrazek, Justin Holl, Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren — and their vital others jetted all the way down to South Florida to take hockey off their minds throughout the all-star wreck.
“Simply a large number of giggling and a large number of amusing—that’s what we did in Miami,” Marner mentioned.
But once they flew again to Toronto for Monday’s showdown towards the top-ranked Carolina Hurricanes, they knew it could be no day on the seaside.
“Now not the very best workforce to play getting back from a wreck,” Morgan Rielly mentioned.
In reality, save for a loss of lovers, this conflict of regular-season titans had a variety of playoff-like options: a struggle, some spirited chirping between benches, tooth-and-nail puck battles, bumps and bruises, dialled-in goalies, and snappy forechecks.
“Two groups that have been all-in on competing this night,” Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “They shut on you temporarily. The tempo is actually excessive each tactics.”
A 4-3 come-from-behind extra time mystery that delivered each a jolt of pleasure and a shiver of shock for lovers of the house workforce.
Marner goes streaking
Has Marner ever discovered himself gripping a warmer stick? In no way as a professional. But if he used to be pumping 44 for the London Knights possibly?
“I do not know,” Marner mentioned. “I’m certain my dad is aware of, however I do not know, to be truthful.”
Pigeonholed as a pass-first megastar, Marner scored each the game-tying purpose and the OT winner to crank his purpose streak to 8 video games — the longest run of his profession and the longest within the league this season.
To discover a longer purpose streak via a Leaf, you’d wish to turn again to Global Conflict II.
To discover a longer streak within the NHL, you’re having a look at late-‘90s, when Corridor of Famers Jaromir Jagr (11 video games) and Teemu Selanne (9) completed the feat.
“Clearly, it feels actual excellent,” mentioned Marner, who’s made a mindful effort to assume much less and force the slot extra.
“The adaptation actually is, I’m now not simply that specialize in blank photographs. I’m now not afraid to only whack one, get it towards the online and marvel them.”
Grip it and rip it.
“Now not overthinking the shot is this kind of giant factor for purpose scorers,” Keefe mentioned. “Of overdue, that’s a large factor for Mitch – he’s simply letting it move.
“Pace and overpowering goalies isn’t the one strategy to rating objectives. So, Mitch has discovered that groove well right here.”
Ya assume?
“He’s been flyin’ round,” Morgan Rielly mentioned.
Since rising from a video-game quarantine in mid-January, Marner has stacked 10 objectives and 19 issues in 8 video games.
“I’m certain the shuttle that we were given helped him,” Petr Mrazek smiled.
Marner credit the entire folks in his nook for holding his thoughts at the delight in the sport.
“After I did get again, I sought after to show my mindset into being extra of a shooter,” he mentioned. “I have been pronouncing right here for some time that I do know I will rating objectives; it is simply believing in it. It is come true just lately. I simply gotta ensure that I simply stay going with it.”
Leafs Country holds collective breath for Matthews
Frightening second within the death seconds of law as Auston Matthews were given tied up with Nino Niederreiter in a positional combat off the push and by chance were given clipped within the head via Brett Pesce’s knee as he fell to the ice.
Following the blow, Matthews wanted a while earlier than attending to his ft and skating off to concussion protocol.
“Clearly that’s now not the rest you wish to have to look,” Rielly mentioned. “However he’s our man, and confidently he’s OK.”
Keefe had no fast replace on his No. 1 centre’s situation, pronouncing he wanted time to be assessed.
Matthews won’t apply with the gang Tuesday, however he had already been given the time without work since dashing again from All-Famous person weekend.
Matthews have been a danger all night time, scoring the Leafs’ first two objectives, going 57 consistent with cent within the face-off dot, and ripping a game-high seven photographs.
Despite the fact that the damage unsettled the bench simply mins earlier than extra time, Keefe mentioned, “Our guys stored their center of attention and simply stored taking part in.”
Freddy’s revenge… denied
Now not simplest used to be Monday’s matchup a measuring stick for 2 of the league’s peak 4 groups (via issues share), it used to be an extraordinary double-revenge sport for the goalies.
Not able to consummate a industry for Frederik Andersen and Mrazek, the Leafs and Canes merely signed the opposite guys’ loose agent final summer season.
With Keefe opting to present his All-Famous person, Jack Campbell, relaxation till Thursday in Calgary, and All-Famous person Andersen willing to thieve two issues at Scotiabank Area wearing purple, there used to be a variety of private incentive within the pipes.
As used to be the case when Zach Hyman returned to Toronto final month, sadly just a restricted crowd used to be available for Andersen’s thank-you ovation.
“Having a look again, it appears like the day past entering Toronto,” mentioned Andersen, a hardworking Leaf for 5 years. “It reminds you that it’s a must to take all of it in and benefit from the procedure.”
Andersen, who used to be razor-sharp early, gave up a scrambly power-play purpose and an attractive one-timer to near pal and pandemic roommate Matthews in the second one body. Then were given beat two times overdue via excellent good friend Marner.
On the different finish, Mrazek used to be as much as the duty towards his former membership as smartly, stoning Sebastian Aho on a breakaway and scuffling with during the pointers and visitors Carolina threw his means.
“He is aggressive. That is why we liked him. He is a gamer,” Canes trainer Rod Brind’Amour mentioned. “You set him in there, he’ll provide you with all he has.”
Leafs captain John Tavares consents: “He simply assists in keeping combating. He by no means says die to any puck, regardless of how tricky it can be.”
After a behind schedule and disastrous begin to his time in Toronto, Mrazek has now reeled off 4 consecutive wins, incomes the arrogance of his teammates and his trainer.
“He’s in a great spot now,” Keefe mentioned.
Mrazek says he’s poured in some further paintings with goalie trainer Steve Briere and will really feel himself making improvements to with every get started he’s given.
“I’m proud of the best way issues have stepped forward,” Mrazek mentioned.
Tavares line suffering at even-strength
In a sidebar tale now not but worthy of headline standing, Toronto’s 2d line of Tavares, William Nylander and Alexander Kerfoot has hit a small skid 5-on-5.
As a result of that trio continues to be thriving on particular groups and the end line is hovering, their manufacturing dip isn’t but motive for alarm. However the trainer has spotted.
“Offensively, they wish to be just a little bit extra direct,” Keefe mentioned.
On Monday, that workforce used to be outchanced 8-4 and outscored 2-0 at even-strength.
Over their previous 11 video games, Tavares is a minus-10 and Nylander is a minus-8.
Kerfoot consents with Keefe’s evaluate, pronouncing they are able to be to blame of seeking to do an excessive amount of with the puck and now not striking their opponent beneath sufficient drive once they don’t have it.
“It’s about being at the puck each and every night time,” Kerfoot mentioned. “Competing.”
Extra warning with Muzzin
Jake Muzzin neglected his 7th consecutive sport and can prolong his wreck from sport motion to no less than 3 and a part weeks.
Regardless of working towards in a normal sweater Sunday and pronouncing he used to be feeling excellent, Muzzin and the membership are well exercising warning.
Muzzin mentioned he did undergo a concussion about 10 years in the past, however that one simplest stored him out every week.
“Head accidents are just a little finicky from time to time, so it is been difficult,” Muzzin mentioned. “However it is a part of the sport, a part of taking part in a bodily recreation, so confidently it is the final one and I am transparent from right here on out.”
Previous to the damage, the Leafs’ easiest defender had some surprisingly tough stretches in his personal finish.
“Once in a while that is the means she is going,” GM Kyle Dubas defined. “I have recognized him for a very long time. I have in mind when he first began within the Soo, it wasn’t all the time beautiful.
“The only factor about Jake Muzzin is that particularly once I assume folks begin to depend him out, or folks assume that he seems like he is beginning to fade, he is very aggressive, and he has a large number of satisfaction, and he is in a position to search out his long ago.
“This damage, it is unlucky, and it is a concussion. So, it is very severe,” mentioned Dubas, discovering a silver lining. “This sort of day without work and getting himself wholesome after which actually resetting himself at the ice, I believe you’ll be able to see him come again and be again to what all of us be expecting, within the shape that he is able to.”
