It was ugly, it was dreadfully boring at times, but it was exactly the kind of performance that Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle wanted.
“There was one thing that stood out in the hockey game that we haven’t done for awhile.”Carlyle said following the Maple Leafs 2-1 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils Friday night. “We drew six power plays.”
Toronto appeared sluggish after a five-day respite and struggled to generate offense against the defensive minded Devils, playing their second of back-to-back games. Phil Kessel scored a highlight reel goal in the third to break a Leafs scoreless streak going back to their 4-2 win in Calgary on October 30, but New Jersey’s Michael Ryder tied the game later in the third on the power play to force overtime.
The Leafs had the best scoring chance in extra time, as Devils goalie Cory Schneider robbed Kessel on a three-on-one break with his blocker and had the lone tally in the shootout, as New Jersey native James van Riemsdyk fired a wrister just inside the far post.
The Leafs coach indicated that in spite of not being able to pounce on first period opportunities with the man-advantage, he was pleased with his club’s first effort with a makeshift lineup without centers Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland.
“We were doing things right as far as getting the puck into the zone, creating more offensive zone time, play more of a chip and support game.” Carlyle said. “We haven’t done that in a while. That’s a starting point for our team. We know our special teams have been good, our goaltending has been good, but our five-on-five play needed addressing.”
Carlyle was generally pleased with van Riemsdyk’s first game at center, playing between Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, stating that it will take time for the lanky forward to pick up on certain differences from playing the wing to playing up the middle.
“I think that the issue for him is going to be more about keep his feet moving in the defensive zone. If he’s going to go and finish a check, he’s got to have some urgency in getting over to support our defenseman from a defensive side of it.”
Newcomer Jerred Smithson had a successful debut with the Blue and White, as the veteran faceoff specialist won eight of nine draws and killed penalties in just under 10 minutes of ice time.
The Leafs went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, as Colton Orr did not participate in the morning skate or pre-game warmup on Friday. The enforcer’s status for Saturday night’s contest in Boston is undetermined.
Jonathan Bernier was again impressive in a 34 save effort to register his seventh win of the season, but it is expected that James Reimer will get the call as Toronto takes on the Boston Bruins for the first time since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Final last May.
The Leafs coach was low key at the prospect of returning to the scene of the “Causeway Street Collapse”.
“I just think from our standpoint, it’s a game that we know and that we can and we have proven to ourselves that we can go in and compete with the Boston Bruins. Simple as that.”
The buildup for the Saturday night match at the TD Garden will be more agonizing for members of Leafs Nation than the actual game, as the Hockey Night In Canada broadcast will undoubtedly be strewn with references and replays of the three-goal rally and Patrice Bergeron’s overtime winner from six months ago, but both teams are dramatically different than the two clubs that tangled six months ago. In the end, all that is at stake in tonight’s contest is two points in the standings and not the fate of the season.
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Listen to my interview on Friday with former Leafs Asst GM Bill Watters here:
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