SUNRISE, Fla. — All right.
Auston Matthews can come back now.
They’re ready, even if the superstar isn’t quite.
The bruised-and-battered, next-guy-up, stick-to-the-system Toronto Maple Leafs have weathered the storm admirably, going 7-2 over the nearly four-week-long absence of their captain.
But as the forward injuries compound and the goals dry up, this team — once an offensive juggernaut — is reaching a tipping point.
The Maple Leafs’ punchless 5-1 loss Wednesday to their fellow divisional contender, the Florida Panthers, underscored the group’s twin problems: They can’t find the back of the net at even strength, and they keep losing the NHL-calibre shooters needed to do so.
Add Bobby McMann and his lower-body injury (undisclosed with a yet-to-be-determined timeline) to the seven regular forwards already sidelined — Matthews, Matthew Knies, Max Domi, David Kämpf, Calle Järnkrok, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, catch breath — and you have the makings of a great movie (Eight Men Out) or a bad sitcom (Eight Is Enough).
No wonder the Maple Leafs rank dead last in five-on-five scoring (nine goals total) since Nov. 3, the date of Matthews’ most recent appearance.
“We’re missing half our team up front, man. You know, it’s tough,” Marner said, post-loss.
“We got a lot of guys coming in, trying to jump up in some roles. They’ve done a great job. I think we’ve done a great job keeping the puck out of our net five-on-five.”
Marner is correct.
Toronto’s formula during this steady bleed of forward talent has been to cash in on the power play, rely heavily on disciplined defence and stellar netminding, and wait for one or two of the healthy game-breakers — Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares — to slice through at a key moment.
Because this young, inexperienced supporting cast is simply not producing. And, honestly, should we be expecting them to?
“These young guys have been great. They’ve been working their ass off. You know, bringing a lot of energy, doing a lot of great things. So, obviously, it’s a tough league.”
Tougher when you draw a legitimate, detailed opponent like the Panthers, which came into this one with a burr in its saddle thanks to a four-game losing skid.
Florida held the Maple Leafs to a measly two high-danger scoring chances and shut them out at even-strength. The Panthers struck twice on their own power-play and once on the Leafs’, building for a controlled, wire-to-wire victory over a group throwing the likes of Alex Nylander and Nikita Grebenkin into the size-34 hole on its top power-play unit.
“Maybe we don’t have the finishers, and I get that side of it, too. But I’m not going to focus on that. I’m focused on what we have in the lineup and how we need to play to generate chances and score goals,” coach Craig Berube said.
“I don’t think we’re hard enough around the net. I don’t think that we’re working hard enough to get to the net. Like I said after the first period, our D had five or six shots in the first period. We’re not making it difficult enough on a goalie and creating second, third opportunities around the net. A lot of times, that’s the way you got to score goals five-on-five.”
The path out of this offensive funk is twofold, according to the men healthy enough to answer questions: simple hard work and time to heal wounds.
That means a more relentless forecheck and a willingness to drive the paint for screens and tips and greasy rewards.
It also means stealing a few more wins and giving a few of those bodies on IR the necessary days to recoup.
“It’s tough. Yeah, we got some offensive firepower out of the lineup right now,” said Steven Lorentz, a glass-half-full type.
“And, you know, no one feels bad for us. It’s tough when guys go down. With that being said, we’re the Leafs. Everywhere we go, we’re gonna have teams’ best to play against. So, it’s just a chance for guys to step up.”
Morgan Rielly is wise enough to know that adversity builds resilience. It’s a tale as old as the Cup itself.
“Every year, every team kind of goes through a period where you’re missing people, and you’ve got new people coming in. And I think it’s a good test. It’s a good opportunity for guys to get exposure to the NHL, and a good chance for us to get used to playing with different people,” Reilly said.
“You got to look at it like a positive. I think you’re getting guys in here in important games. And I think that’s a net positive.”
Here’s an even greater positive: Breube is hopeful that both Matthews and Knies — a couple of real finishers — can play a hockey game Saturday in Tampa Bay.
What better antidote for a team that can’t score five-on-five than the most prolific five-on-five scorer of his generation?
“(Matthews) looks great out there,” Lorentz beamed.
“Even in practice, he’s making plays like he’s just same ol’ same. So that’d be a huge boost, obviously. But I guess we’ll take it day by day and see what happens.”
Feels like the day has come.
Fox’s Fast Five
• Lorentz has a smile on his face every day, but his contagious grin was extra shiny at Wednesday’s morning skate. He and his fellow ex-Panthers were presented with their 554-diamond Stanley Cup rings.
“I got no words,” a downright giddy Lorentz said. “All the guys were in the room there from last season. We got to see everybody, coaches and staff, and the guys. It was pretty cool. It brought back a lot of good memories.”
“A great feeling,” Ekman-Larsson echoed. “Coming into that room and seeing all the guys, kind of going through your head what you went through last year and the battles with that group. So, a lot of emotions, but also a lot of fun.”
“All three of them didn’t get to those rings easily,” Maurice noted. “They didn’t have an easy path. They all went through a gated trial. Bet on themselves. Do the right thing. And they’re all fantastic teammates.”
Tavares admitted he took a quick peek at his new teammates’ 14-karat gold prize: “I didn’t want to look too long, but obviously it was pretty spectacular.”
• Nice touch by Berube throwing his three ex-Panthers into the opening lineup in their first trip back to Amerant Bank Arena since hoisting the Cup on the shredded ice of an emotional Game 7.
Ekman-Larsson, Lorentz, and Stolarz each received individual video tributes and standing ovations from the home crowd. A veritable lovefest on Thanksgiving Eve.
“You wanted this one tonight,” Stolarz said. “So, (the loss) puts a little damper on it, but it’s something that you remember for the rest of your life.”
• Without Matthews to set up, Marner has been finishing his own plays, ripping seven goals over the past eight games.
Berube is encouraging the pass-first winger to shoot even more. In this one, he co-led all skaters with four on target.
• Which Leafs forwards get returned to the Marlies when Matthews and Knies get healthy?
Judging by ice time and the coach’s situational trust, Nikita Grebenkin and Alex Nylander would be the odd men out.
Nylander requires waivers, however.
If Brad Treliving is worried about losing him for nothing, rookie centre Fraser Minten or fourth-liner Alex Steeves become candidates. The GM originally wanted Minten to develop in the AHL for the full season.
• Classy move by the Maple Leafs social crew for pressing up pins in honour of ironman reporter David Alter, who celebrated his 300th consecutive game covering the team in-person. That’s a lot of long layovers and mediocre coffees. Respect.
