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Chalk up one other win for the Maple Leafs.
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This one got here in entrance of the Class of 2024 Hockey Corridor of Fame inductees on Friday night time at Scotiabank Enviornment, a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Purple Wings.
Our takeaways from the victory that pushed the Leafs’ document 8-5-2:
DYNAMIC DUO
With captain Auston Matthews on injured reserve as he nurses an upper-body damage, John Tavares and Mitch Marner not solely have continued their high-quality play, they’ve kicked it up a notch.
Tavares had two objectives and Marner a aim and an help, doing sufficient in what Tavares correctly known as a “low-event” sport.
Tavares continues to shrug off what might have been a troublesome low season, when he handed the captaincy over to Matthews in August. He has 13 factors (seven objectives and 6 assists) in 14 video games, serving to to make observers neglect that there had been questions in the course of the summer season concerning the Leafs’ potential points at centre.
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“He has been excellent,” defenceman Morgan Rielly stated after the sport. “He appears to have that unwavering focus and work ethic.
“As a teammate, when he is available in, you at all times know what to anticipate, and I believe that’s an underrated high quality. He places within the time and the trouble, and he’s only a actual professional.
“I’ve loved taking part in with him, and this yr possibly greater than ever, in the way in which that he has approached the final couple of months. The way in which that he is available in right here and goes about his enterprise, I believe, could be very admirable.”
Then there’s Marner, who prolonged his level streak to seven video games. With a team-high 18 factors via 15 video games, Marner is on tempo for 98, although we gained’t be greatly surprised if he makes a superb push for what could be his first 100-point season within the Nationwide Hockey League.
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About the concept the stress of taking part in within the last yr of his contract probably would affect his play — by no means thoughts.
On coach Craig Berube, Marner has made a high-quality first impression.
“His management is great,” Berube stated. “He leads by instance together with his play. He does as a lot defensively as he does offensively. He’s getting factors as a result of he’s doing issues proper the opposite manner, and that’s an enormous a part of it.”
Marner was thrilled to take the ceremonial opening faceoff towards Wings captain Dylan Larkin, with Detroit legend Pavel Datsyuk dropping the puck.
“It was unbelievable,” stated Marner, a fan of Datsyuk rising up. “A whole lot of guys there that I grew up watching. It was actually cool to be part of that, and hopefully I’ll attempt to get a stick off Datsyuk this weekend. It was one thing I’ll cherish for a very long time.”
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CONFIDENCE IN POWER
After struggling via the primary dozen video games, the Leafs are actually scoring in bunches on the ability play.
Toronto scored on each of its energy performs towards the Wings, placing it at 6-for-11 previously three video games.
The idea that was lacking earlier than is clear now. Zone entries are higher, and the Leafs are getting the puck to the online with consistency. They’re creating their very own luck, as effectively.
A Marner go that went off the stick of a Wings participant and on to Tavares wasn’t the sort of factor that was taking place earlier. Tavares turned and beat goalie Cam Talbot.
“It was going to be a matter of time,” Tavares stated of the success. “A number of the issues that we’re preaching are beginning to repay … our tempo, delivering pucks to the online, retrieving pucks and discovering second and third alternatives and making it troublesome on the goalie and screens. It’s good to get it going.
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“We now have lots of talent, lots of expertise, lots of capacity to have a very good energy play.”
CLAMPING DOWN
The Leafs, nonetheless, have hit a dry spell at five-on-five, however they’ve been giving up little at even power.
Nothing, to be actual, on Friday night time, as Larkin’s aim was on a Detroit energy play. This after Toronto shut out Boston on Tuesday.
The play of goalie Anthony Stolarz is vital, clearly, but it surely’s essential that the Leafs study to play affected person hockey now. It’s among the many elements that ought to lastly result in success within the playoffs subsequent spring. And we’ve come to understand it’s not one thing the Leafs can merely activate in April.
“5 guys being linked within the zone,” Marner stated. “I believe we’ve achieved a superb job closing down the slot. We’ve performed some groups which are actually harmful, that make lots of nice performs from under the aim line to the center of the ice, and we’ve achieved a superb job shutting it down.
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“When it will get up high, we’ve achieved a superb job as wingers and D, and centres actually, to get in lanes.”
Berube will not be involved concerning the lack of execution at five-on-five in latest video games, because the Leafs haven’t scored a aim in that state of affairs of their previous three. Once more, although, the opposition is getting little, which is vital. Detroit had simply 22 pictures on aim, with 17 at five-on-five.
“I believed we grinded good within the offensive zone,” Berube stated of the win over Detroit. “Had some actually good O-zone shifts the place we had the puck and we’re competing and hanging on to pucks.
“We didn’t get lots of clear appears to be like. You’re going to have video games like that. It was nice by the fellows simply hanging in there and never opening it up, not exposing something, simply hold taking part in.”
X: @koshtorontosun
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