TORONTO — In the wake of Saturday’s debacle on home ice, Craig Berube came as close as ever to singling out his captain.
“Our leaders got to take control of it a lot more than they are right now,” the Maple Leafs coach said after a 6-3 beatdown by the Edmonton Oilers’ leaders that featured a blown lead, a rollover third period and an absence of impact from Toronto’s superstars.
Considering William Nylander was noticeably sick and 35-year-old John Tavares has been overdelivering on his AAV, many interpreted Berube’s “leaders” comment as a nod toward the man who wears the C.
“I mean, we can all be better,” Matthews said Monday, speaking for the first time since Connor McDavid and Co. ran him off his own rink. “Obviously, the last two games, it’s frustrating. You go into the game against San Jose, got the lead, and the third period wasn’t very good. And then on Saturday, we’re in a position where the game’s right there.”
Matthews admitted the Leafs didn’t bring enough energy in the third period. He also kept the focus where Berube put it — on the leaders, plural.
“Rightfully so, it’s gonna fall on the leaders, and that is fine,” he said. “We’ve got to be better in that area and make sure that when we’re in these tight games that we just keep grinding and doing what was making us successful the first two periods.”
Matthews’ assessment of his own play?
“I mean, it’s fine. It’s been a grind lately,” the captain replied. “You know, for us, it’s trying to string together points and wins. And I think we’ve done a pretty decent job of that over the last seven, eight, nine, 10 games.”
Most nights, the one-time Selke finalist has played well defensively. He’s on pace for a whopping 142 blocked shots, which will crush a career high. He’s winning an impressive 59.1 per cent of his faceoffs.
And yet, the gap between the two captains’ performances Saturday night accentuated the decline in Matthews’ game. (Clips of his soft backcheck on San Jose’s overtime winner Thursday didn’t help either.)
“It’s not at the level that he wants it at — or us,” Berube said. “And it’s not just about scoring goals; it’s just the whole game in general. But I do believe — and I know he believes — it’s going to get better here.”
Berube softened his criticism of Matthews and motioned to the team in general. The coach has seen a dip since returning home from an emotional and successful 4-1 road trip at the top of the month.
“He’s like everybody else. We got to all be better,” Berube said. “I’m not going to just focus on one guy. It’s not about one guy; it’s about the team.”
Fair.
But one guy has been positioned to be the main driver of the team if it is to contend.
Matthews wanted the captaincy and the $13.25 million annual salary.
For reasons unclear (though health suspicions linger), he’s avoiding contact (on pace for just 50 hits) and shooting less frequently.
Matthews is tracking for 38 goals and a career-low 62 points, assuming he plays out the season.
That Berube began the week by promoting William Nylander to Matthews’ wing is a bit of an indictment.
“I’m not seeing enough from that line in general, offensively or defensively. So, gonna move Willy up there,” Berube said. “They got to work together and do things right, but could be a real good line.”
Yep, the season has been a grind. We all see it, feel it.
“For us, for myself, personally, I mean, it’s just next game, doing whatever I can to help the team win. It’s the most important thing for us in this room,” Matthews said.
“You got to put your individual stuff to the side and that kind of pride aside and do whatever is necessary to help the team win. Of course, you want to produce, you want to score and do all that stuff. But I think the little things bleed through the locker room just as much as the big things do.”
Tanev takes meaningful step
It’s a start.
Chris Tanev has been sidelined with an undisclosed head/neck injury since a “fluke hit” (his term) by Matvei Michkov in Philadelphia on Nov. 1 required him to be stretchered off the ice and spend a night in hospital.
The durable defenceman finally ditched his no-contact sweater Tuesday and participated in full battle drills with his teammates.
He won’t play Tuesday, and the team won’t announce a timeline, but a pre-Christmas return has not been ruled out.
“It’d be great,” Berube said, “but we’ll see.”
Tanev thanked the medical staffs in Toronto and Philadelphia “for really taking care of me and making sure that nothing catastrophic was wrong.”
Yes, Tanev said, the situation was scary — particularly during his first game from a concussion.
“But when you’re around good people and surrounded by the right people, they really calm you down and make sure every everything’s OK,” Tanev said.
Did the 35-year-old father and husband consider the long-term repercussions of attempting a comeback?
“You always think about things. And, yeah, initially when that happened, you talk to doctors, and you have to determine the next steps, and obviously what’s best for yourself and the game and hockey and your team and your family,” Tanev said. “But really happy to be here and skate today, and it was great to be around the guys.”
Tanev has been in consultation with the Maple Leafs’ medical staff and at least two other doctors to determine his recovery path. He declined to say whether surgery is an option.
The defenceman fulfilled the recommended six weeks without contact Saturday and described his health status as a “fluid situation.”
In the meantime, he’s been skating solo or with fellow injured defenceman Marshall Rifai, in addition to working out in the gym.
“It’s tough for a guy like that,” Berube said. “He wants to be involved, wants to play, wants to help the team. But his attitude has been good about it all, and he’s worked hard trying to prepare himself to get back.”
Though Tanev said it “sucks not playing,” he was thrilled to rejoin the group.
“You can skate all you want, but getting into battles, fighting for pucks, just things happening at game speed is always an adjustment,” Tanev said. “So, it was nice to try to acclimatize myself to more of a game-like scenario.”
Said Tavares: “Good sign, first and foremost, for him. But for us as well.”
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Woll might start Tuesday
Joseph Woll was an active participant in Monday’s up-tempo, 45-minute practice, looking every bit like a goalie who could suit up for a hockey game.
Berube said there’s “a chance” Woll starts Tuesday. He’s been sidelined 11 days with a lower-body injury he suffered in Carolina.
Third-stringer Dennis Hildeby (.923 save percentage) has been fantastic in relief, but the last thing the coach wants is to over-exert another netminder.
Berube gave Hildeby the mercy pull in Saturday’s blowout, in part because he was “tired.”
Get Woll back in the crease.
“Dennis had a heavy workload, and it would definitely help, for sure,” said Berube, who should be more willing to mix in a few more Hildeby starts while Anthony Stolarz recovers.
“Well, he’s shown he can handle it. I think he did a great job for us. And going into even (the Oilers) game, we limit a couple things, he gives us another chance to win.”
One-Timers: Dakota Joshua had a rough weekend and missed Saturday’s game but assures he’s past his illness…. Calle Järnkrok could be the odd man out with Joshua returning…. Matias Maccelli (illness) missed Monday’s practice…. Tanev couldn’t be more thrilled that the Leafs picked up Troy Stecher: “He’s one of (my) best friends.” The buddies, who also joined forces on the Canucks and Flames, have now played on three Canadian teams together.
Maple Leafs projected lineup Tuesday vs. Chicago Blackhawks:
Knies – Matthews – Nylander
Robertson – Tavares – McMann
Joshua – Roy – Domi
Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan
Rielly – Ekman-Larsson
McCabe – Stecher
Benoit – Thrun
Woll
Hildeby
