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In beating the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night time, the Maple Leafs gained their third recreation in a row after shedding their season opener.
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Our takeaways from the 6-2 Toronto win at Scotiabank Area:
THAT MATTHEWS MAGIC
You knew that the zero beside captain Auston Matthews’ identify within the purpose column, and level column for that matter, wasn’t going to final endlessly.
To not fear, the sensation was via three video games, as Matthews continued to get his seems. He had a team-high 15 pictures on purpose and persistently was across the opposition’s internet.
In opposition to the Kings, Matthews went to the shot that he ought to patent, the one which comes off a fast launch and is pin-point correct. It got here at 8:49 of the primary interval after Bobby McMann had given Toronto a 1-0 lead, as Matthews fanned on a shot, reloaded and beat goalie David Rittich to the brief aspect.
“You need to contribute each night time, and it’s not going to go in each night time,” Matthews stated. “It’s good to see one fall and it’s a bit little bit of a weight lifted off your shoulders a bit.”
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Matthews additionally had two assists. Of the Leafs forwards who’ve performed in all 4 video games, solely Nick Robertson doesn’t have some extent.
The Leafs’ huge three all have been contributors, as Mitch Marner had three assists and William Nylander scored a purpose and assisted on one other.
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Max Domi, Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson had two assists every.
We’ll see now if Matthews’ first purpose results in an onslaught of manufacturing from one of many most-feared shooters within the recreation. Given his historical past, nobody must be stunned if it does.
MCMANN EXCELS
Per week after he was a wholesome scratch within the season opener, McMann scored two targets to place him at three in three video games.
There was some good offensive chemistry on a line with Domi and Nylander, an element that was evident when Nylander despatched McMann in alone for the latter’s second purpose of the sport.
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After thrusting himself into the Leafs dialog final yr and incomes a contract alongside the way in which, McMann is absolutely simply on the cusp of what sort of affect he could make within the Nationwide Hockey League.
Underneath Craig Berube’s teaching philosophy — play arduous, play easy, be good — the 6-foot-2, 215-pound McMann has an ideal alternative to thrive. He has the velocity, end and brains to place all of it collectively.
“He’s an influence ahead,” Berube stated. “That’s how he ought to suppose the sport, night time in and night time out, is being an influence ahead along with his skating and his measurement.
“He doesn’t need to complicate the sport. Go in straight traces, bang our bodies and get to the online and rating targets.”
McMann was taking part in with a number of confidence final season earlier than a knee harm in April put him on the sideline.
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Notably, McMann was capable of put his benching for the opener apart. If Max Pacorietty, who was a wholesome scratch on Wednesday, attracts again in for the house recreation in opposition to the New York Rangers on Saturday, there’s nearly no likelihood it will likely be McMann who comes out.
“Simply trusting that it’s a part of the method and it’s a part of the sport,” McMann stated of his mindset after he was scratched final week. “There’s guys which might be taking part in nicely, there’s a variety of good gamers on this staff, and perhaps some guys match higher at sure situations than others. It was simply realizing that my alternative would come.”
NOT GREAT BUT IT WORKS
Good groups gained’t all the time have nice nights, however nonetheless can discover a strategy to make sufficient fall into place and emerge with the victory.
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That’s the way it went with the Leafs on Wednesday, nevertheless it’s not a priority by any stretch. In truth, there must be encouragement {that a} staff can win and handle to move into the night time with two factors when there have been bumps all through the sport.
For the Leafs, it was throughout five-on-five play. Toronto was outshot 30-17 and the Kings had 60 makes an attempt to the Leafs’ 27.
Shoddy Kings goaltending on the a part of Rittich, who was pulled in favour of Pheonix Copley after permitting 4 targets on 14 pictures, aided Toronto.
Berube referred to the Leafs’ sloppiness, which resulted in him calling a timeout after Kevin Fiala’s purpose reduce the Toronto result in 5-2 with 11 minutes to play. Berube gave the Leafs an earful.
“I assumed our particular groups have been glorious,” Berube stated. “Goalie was actually good.”
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Psychological be aware there: Berube didn’t say the identical concerning the staff’s effort as a complete.
Not solely did the Leafs rating twice on the ability play — their first power-play purpose ended an 0-for-11 drought to begin the season — they killed off 4 minors.
Anthony Stolarz, in one other strong outing, made 32 saves.
As for defenceman Timothy Liljegren, he wasn’t nice in his season debut, taking a minor penalty and customarily being outplayed at five-on-five. If Berube goes again to Conor Timmins in opposition to the Rangers, it mustn’t come as a shock.
Victories aren’t all the time going to be tied up properly with a bow. For the Leafs, Wednesday was a kind of nights.
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