Durinf the 2010-11 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs' second line was arguably the best on the team, posing a dangerous scoring threat on a nightly basis.
The trio of Clarke MacArthur, Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, also referred to as 'Mac and the USSR' we're among the scoring leaders for the Leafs during the 2010-11 season. All three had over 50 points, while Kulemin had his first 30-goal season and MacArthur led the team in assists and was second in points behind Phil Kessel with 62 last season.
This year has seen a slow down in offensive production as Grabovski leads the line with ten points through 17 games played. MacArthur has six goals and two assists this season, and is on pace for just 44 points. Kulemin, meanwhile, looks hard pressed to reach the 30-goal plateau again with just two through 17 games which puts him on pace to score a total of nine goals this season.
In Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, both Kulemin and MacArthur went without a shot on goal. Leafs head coach Ron Wilson says that simplifying their game and getting the puck on net is one way to return to their offensive dominance from one season ago.
"There's always pressure so they've just got to play their game and relax," said Wilson. "There's a few things they can do better. They've got to find ways to get more pucks to the net instead of over-passing it. So that's what we've talked about and shown them on video -- scenes from when they were really going last year to some of the games this year where they've over passed or hadn't thought about shooting."
"When you think about Clarke ten days ago," Wilson added. "When he had the six goals in a week, every time he got it he was using his speed, driving wide and pounding the puck at the net and they found a way to go in. He's got to get back to doing that."
With 25 shots in 17 games for an average of 1.5 shots per game, compared to an average of 2.1 shots per game last season, Kulemin echoed his coach's statement about getting more pucks on net. The 25-year old Russian believes that getting just one goal can help change his whole mentality to get him out of this rough patch.
"Just working hard and we're getting our chances," Kulemin explained. "We just need a better finish and we need more shots. That's what's the problem and I didn't shoot the puck a lot."
"When it starts going, it's much easier and I feel more comfortable," Kulemin stated. "You start thinking a different way when you start scoring."
MacArthur explained that Kulemin's struggles seem to be weighing on his Russian linemate. MacArthur has been through it all before and said that Kulemin's desire to score and the pressure he places on himself is what might be hindering him most.
"He's at the point where the net is the size of this trash can," MacArthur said referencing a small garbage bin on the floor next to him. "I've been through that, the chances he's had and he's missed. It's not from a lack of effort, it's not like he doesn't want to score. He wants it bad and that's almost worse."
"He's just got to keep working hard and hopefully he'll get one in front of the net where you just bang one in and all the weight comes off your shoulders and you get going."
Communication is key for any line and during Monday's practice, the trio were seen talking at great lengths. MacArthur explained that he and his linemates are trying to talk through their issues to get going again, but ultimately it comes down to battling and being better on the ice.
"We try to," MacArthur said of talking through their early season slump. "But like any struggle in life you've just go to work through it. Everyone has their day-to-day things where it's not going right and we'll see if we can be men here and get out of it."
"That's all you can do. Some days are tough, some days are great. We've just go to dig through it and we'll be better for it in the end."
Grabovski added that the line needs to do a better job of supporting each other as well as loosening up during this tough start for them. The 27-year old Belarussian who has five goals and five assists also stated that more shots and moving their feet would help his line to get going again.
"We forget to support each other," Grabovski explained. "We work hard, but if something doesn't work maybe we need some more positives. Keep working and find open ice and more shooting and go to the net. Just relax because I think we're really tight right now."
Head coach Wilson agreed with that statement, saying that MacArthur and Kulemin would be better served to try and make some offense happen instead of passing the puck to Grabovski and being too predictable.
"It seems that when Kuly or Clarkie get the puck, they immediately want to give it to Grabo instead of get their legs going and open up the ice. Because they're telegraphing everything to Grabo right now, so those guys have to skate with and without the puck."
Better communication, more shots on net and moving their feet are all ways that the line are trying to improve on to get back on track. Another thing they tried was a good luck charm which doesn't seem like it will be making a return after MacArthur's goal on his own net on Saturday.
"We'll try anything right now," MacArthur stated. "We brought that Russian bunny out from last year. We had this glass bunny that whoever scored would keep that bunny until the next game. So we brought it out because I was the last guy to score and then I scored on our own net so I think we're done with that thing. I'm done with that bunny."
Notes - Wilson would not name his starting goalie for Tuesday's home game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Captain Dion Phaneuf missed practice for a maintenance day. He will play Tuesday. Tim Connolly took part in practice but is doubtful for Tuesday. It is possible that he could return on Thursday when the team travels to Nashville to take on the Predators.
For up-to-the-minute Leafs news and updates, be sure to follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @KenBeckett
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