TORONTO – Is there anything better than beating the Leafs?
Well, how about beating the Leafs after they’ve had your number for six straight since your post-victory crowing in the Winnipeg Jets dressing room went viral?
Or beating the Leafs after they rolled into your own barn less than two months ago and squashed your epic season-opening, eight-game win streak in decisive fashion?
Or beating the Leafs while ensuring your team first-place status at Christmas and ripping a game-winning hat trick in your home province, with a healthy, happy contingent of friends, family members, and “True North!” anthem interrupters in the enemy’s barn?
Well, at least one of them chucked a Jets toque onto the ice when Mark Scheifele potted his third goal, an empty-netter, in a 5-2 win for the visitors.
“I was hoping I was gonna see a couple (hats) right away. But maybe the Jets fans couldn’t get the seats closer to the ice,” smiled Scheifele, the target of boos at Scotiabank Arena.
Scheifele says he doesn’t believe in curses.
Yet the Kitchener, Ont., native had waited more than three years to rejoice in a victory over Toronto since he delivered this speech:
And the Jets had spoken openly with each other before the puck dropped on Monday’s matinee about avenging their 6-4 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 28.
“The biggest thing is, we didn’t play our best when we played them last. So, we were excited to get another crack at them and show them the game that we can play. So, all in all, it’s a big win for us,” Scheifele said.
“Being a kid from close to Toronto, you want to beat the team that you grew up that close to. If they’re still talking about (my 2021 comment), it’s probably a bigger deal than it is.”
Scorching his way into the holidays like Clark Griswold on a sled greased with cooking oil, Scheifele’s four-point afternoon gives him nine goals and 16 points in 11 games since being left off Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster.
“There’s always a little bit of motivation that you can draw from in every game,” Scheifele said of the snub. “But it’s just a matter of playing good for the Winnipeg Jets.”
American linemate Kyle Connor has “no doubts” his motivated centreman will change minds and make Canada’s Olympic squad.
“He’s taking a shot-first mentality when it’s there. And we all know he’s an elite passer; he can find the seam when it is there,” Connor said.
“But at the same time, he’s really enjoying being able to play against other teams’ best. Especially on the road, when we’re not able to get our match our (Adam) Lowry line against the other teams, he relishes in those opportunities.”
Scheifele and Connor combined to score all five Jets goals in this one, in part because Toronto’s top line was without Auston Matthews and Toronto’s top shutdown pair was without Chris Tanev. (Not to mention the weeks-long injury to Toronto’s top goalie.)
And, studying the Leafs’ 1-2-2 defensive system, the Jets smartly avoided cross-ice passes in the neutral zone, simplifying their attack and taking pouncing on a few undetailed mistakes in Toronto’s end.
“Having friends and everybody around, it’s just different than any other game of the year, y’know?” Connor said. “I know he’s got a lot of buddies and family that he looks forward to seeing. And whether that gives you extra energy or whatever it is, I don’t know. It’s just out of the ordinary. So, it seemed like he had another jump tonight.”
Coming up on the losing end of this battle between two of the country’s three best teams, Leafs coach Craig Berube heads into the three-day holiday break vowing to “clean up the mistakes and details” that have resulted in a two-game skid and hoping for a healthier return.
Down the hall, Winnipeg’s Scott Arniel was singing the joys of “your best players being your best players,” and Scheifele was relishing a gift come early.
“Close to home, before Christmas — makes it even better,” the game’s first star beamed. “I love coming to Toronto.
“I get a little extra excited to play here, so getting the win before the break is huge.”
Is there anything better than beating the Leafs?
Maybe tying a bow on the curse.
“For Scheif,” Arniel said, “that will make for a nice Christmas present.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• Uncertainty over Matthews’ health keeps nagging at the process, like cheap tinsel caught in the Roomba.
“He’s going to rest here over the break and hopefully comes back in a lot better shape,” Berube said. “He gets relief at times, but it’s not good enough.”
Matthews has now missed 11 of Toronto’s 35 games with an upper-body injury that has hampered him since training camp.
Not only is Matthews questionable to suit up Friday in Detroit, but fans are already debating the worth of his participation in February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
• More injury news: A surprise game-time scratch, Tanev missed his first game as a Leaf due to a lower-body ailment suffered Saturday versus the Islanders.
• Attempting to flip momentum and jolt the crowd, Max Domi picked a scrap with mild-mannered Alex Iafallo.
Iafallo had gone his whole pro career (558 games, including playoffs) without fighting.
Iafallo’s most recent bout, according to HockeyFights.com, was 12 years ago, when, as a star for the USHL’s Fargo Force, he dropped the gloves with Seth Adams of the Des Moines Buccaneers.
• Connor has now kicked off his full-time NHL with eight consecutive 20-goal seasons.
With two goals on the afternoon, the shooter is on pace for 49 goals in 2024-25, which would match his career high.
“I’m so lucky to play with him. He’s unbelievable. He does so many amazing things out there,” Scheifele says. “His speed, his shot are the first things that come to mind, but he makes some fantastic passes. He goes to the right areas. He grinds in the corners. He’s a real pleasure to play with.”
• Caught defending after playing the entirety of a double power-play, William Nylander clocked in a ridiculous shift that lasted four minutes and 55 seconds.
“He’s got the iron lungs,” Mitch Marner said.
That’s the longest shift logged by a Leaf this season.
“Willy knows he can stay out for the full power play, two minutes,” Berube said. “At that point, I have to look at the tape and think about why he didn’t come off.”
In fairness, Nylander did ask Santa for more ice time for Christmas.
