TORONTO — While the league’s Powers That Be would have you believe in parity, it is clear just 10 days into the season that not all opponents are created equal.
So, just as the New York Rangers proved far and away the toughest challenge the Toronto Maple Leafs have faced in this young campaign, the reverse is equally true.
The potential fireworks packed into Saturday at Scotiabank Arena may not have exploded — neither side’s all-star forwards went off for a banner night, and heavyweights Ryan Reaves and Matt Rempe kept all four gloves on — but fans were treated to a mostly excellent 60 minutes of hockey between two Eastern powers that should have no issue carrying their October games into April.
The Rangers — reigning Presidents’ Trophy champs and the team that has already played with a lead more than any other this season — solved Anthony Stolarz early and leaned on Igor Shesterkin late to come out on top 4-1.
But with two garbage-time empty-netters, the score doesn’t do justice to a tight contest waged between a couple of deep, smart, well-coached outfits that blend responsible defence with game-breaking plays.
We shouldn’t have expected less when two of the top three teams in goal differential meet head-to-head.
“I thought was a great effort tonight. Kind of a playoff-style game against a really good team, and something we’re going to see a lot down the road,” said the solid Stolarz, who tipped his cap after losing a goalie duel to Shesterkin.
“You can see why he’s going to be the highest-paid goalie in the league.”
Added Leafs coach Craig Berube: “They’re a very good team. They’re solid all around. There’s not a lot of weaknesses there, for sure.”
Berube’s first head-coaching job came at the expense of Peter Laviolette in Philadelphia, who was fired back in 2013, and made a few stops before taking these Rangers to the final four.
So, the hockey lifers are well familiar with how each other demands structure and leans on depth. Saturday’s low-scoring tilt was playoff-like not in its menace but in how dangerous bursts of talent zipped out of an otherwise safe, controlled play flow.
An Auston Matthews wraparound here.
A tic-tac-toe finish from Chris Kreider there.
A Shesterkin stoning on an all-alone William Nylander when it mattered.
“Chief’s always been a guy that talks about defence,” Laviolette said. “I know they got some talent out there and skill. But when we worked together, he was about defence, and they seem to be trying to defend, pack the house and play good defence.
“Back then, he was a good coach. He was detailed and ran good meetings.”
Next time these contenders cross paths, Berube will likely spend a meeting on his underwhelming power play (0-for-3 and less crisp than Laviolette’s) and another on traffic in front of the all-world goalie who vacuums nearly every puck he sees clean.
“It literally just started with just getting to the paint,” Matthew Knies said of Toronto’s late push. “Like you saw with Auston’s goal. It was right by the net, and just traffic and kind of chaos. So, that’s what we need more of it. I just feel like we didn’t have enough of that today.”
Added Oliver Ekman-Larsson: “We gotta dig a little deeper in the third there.”
We could throw out a term like “measuring stick,” and some may roll eyes. But there is value in delivering an honest effort against a legitimate opponent and learning how far off you may be and what small improvements might be necessary along the line.
“Lots of speed and skill. We know they move the puck very well. They’re dangerous offensively. I thought they did a good job tonight of clogging it up and making it tough for us to get offence going,” Morgan Rielly said.
Toronto should get another worthy test Monday when the 3-1 Lightning roll into town, backed by another accomplished Russian netminder.
“I think we’re going to take a lot from this game,” Knies said.
They should.
Because in a bloated league crowded with rebuilders and have-nots, there are only so many true sword-sharpening opportunities the 82-game gauntlet offers.
Fox’s Fast Five
• Pontus Holmberg is due to watch one from the press box.
He’s a minus player on a good team, saw his ice time dip to a season-low 11:18 Saturday, and took a neutral-zone holding penalty getting beat by his man. He doesn’t generate enough offence (one assist, four shots in five games) to make up for middling defence.
Berube has already had a conversation with him about his game.
“I thought he had a real good camp. To me, he’s got to battle a little bit harder for pucks and hang on to pucks a little bit more, like he was in training camp, in the offensive zone,” Berube says. “Just get up to speed. Looks a little step behind right now.”
• Now a first-liner, Alexis Lafreniere is well on pace for the most productive season of his career. Each of the first-overall pick’s five campaigns has been better than the last.
Hey, who says progress can’t be linear?
The power forward has kicked off his contract year with a five-game point streak (three goals, three assists).
If Lafreniere could give his younger self one piece of advice?
“Just be patient,” he says.
“(My game) has been good. Just trying to make plays. Maybe you can be a little bit better defensively, but offensively, I think we’re making plays.”
• Because Steven Lorentz signed a one-year deal, he won’t be eligible to re-up with his boyhood team until January.
Nick Kypreos reports that the Leafs are already interested in extending the fourth-liner — a fast fit living out his yearbook vow.
“That’s going way back. Probably not the only yearbook I put that in, but that was definitely the goal my whole life,” Lorentz told reporters Saturday. “It’s definitely cool to pull the sweater on every single day.”
The Ontario-born Lorentz doesn’t believe his Leafs dream was all that unique, though: “Especially after a good mini sticks game at recess, a lot of guys would be like, ‘Who knows? Maybe I got a shot.’”
• The Rangers’ routine of everyone — players and coaches — huddling tight at centre ice following every practice began as an idea to bring everyone closer. Literally and figuratively.
K’Andre Miller says he “absolutely” sees the benefits of the group hug.
“We love it,” Miller says. “It’s a time to discuss the previous game, discuss birthdays, things like that.”
• Max Pacioretty was scratched for a second straight game and hasn’t played in more than a week now.
“I’m dealing with it the best I can — just work. Would I rather be playing? Of course,” Pacioretty said, following another long on-ice session. “Anyone up here talking honestly would say they want to play and feel they deserve to play, but it is what it is.
“I’m having a lot of fun right now working on my game.”
