TORONTO — Spot a lockdown defensive team two goals before you register two shots, and you’re bound to get a result like the Toronto Maple Leafs earned Saturday.
A thorough 6-3 defeat to the rested and relentless New York Islanders — who out-chanced and outworked the home team, avoided the penalty box entirely, and were full value for the road win — made for a rather silent night inside Scotiabank Arena on the Saturday before Christmas.
Islanders rookie Maxim Tsyplakov and Bo Horvat jumpstarted the barrage thrown goalie Joseph Woll’s way on odd-man rushes. And by the 4:48 mark, Craig Berube was already burning his timeout.
The coach’s message?
“Wake the (expletive) up,” relayed William Nylander, who wasn’t buying the back-to-back excuse.
“I don’t think it matters. It’s just maybe more so mental, for the start. Maybe that was the thing. And, I mean, that shouldn’t really happen.”
The butter hadn’t yet drizzled down to the bottom of the popcorn box, and you could already see the credits rolling.
Had Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a veteran of 1,016 games, seen a coach use his timeout before the first period was five minutes old?
“No,” the defenceman replied. “I think that says a lot about that game.
“They came out. They were skating. And we did not.”
In hindsight, Ekman-Larsson believes simplifying with tired legs and talking more with each other might have allowed the Leafs to ease into the rhythm instead of getting beat like a drum.
“We had a slow start. They came with real good pace, not just in the first period, but all night. And we put ourselves in a hole,” John Tavares said. “And coming on back-to-back nights, that’s a lot of work to make up.”
Sure, the Leafs showed a couple flashes.
Nylander struck twice, including a backhand of a beauty. Mitch Marner helped Bobby McMann extend his goal streak to three games. And an under-siege Woll mixed in some athletic saves.
But Toronto was playing half-hearted catchup. They didn’t have the breath nor the quantity of Grade-A chances to outscore their mistakes on workhorse Ilya Sorokin.
“Early on, they were just better than us. They were on their toes better. We weren’t very smart,” Berube said. “I get that they’re rested and may play a bit quicker. But we gotta play smarter than that. We just can’t give freebies. And we gave them two freebies right away and got behind.
“We didn’t have enough guys step up tonight and do the job.”
Guys stepping up will be a theme in Leafland until there is a sense that Auston Matthews can play hockey again at full health.
“He is a big part of his team and our leader,” Ekman-Larsson said. “Sucks not having him in the lineup.”
The captain missed a 10th game due to his lower-body injury, which was aggravated by a Dennis Gilbert cross-check to the lower back Friday. And his status for Monday’s matinee versus Winnipeg is in doubt.
“He’s just doing everything he can to help this team,” Tavares said. “I know it’s very tough on him to miss games, and he does everything he can on a daily basis to prepare himself, not only to play at the highest level but to be healthy. He’ll continue with everything he needs to do to get back as soon as possible.”
So… how concerning is it that Matthews has needed to step away a second time to recuperate?
“I’m not a doctor. I can’t answer that question,” Berube replied.
“I’m hoping here with the break coming up, he can get some relief, feel better, be ready to go, recharge. So, that’s really all I could say about it.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• Cool moment for Islanders rookie Isaiah George, who was born in Oakville, Ont., and played minor hockey for the GTHL’s Toronto Marlboros.
The 20-year-old Islanders defenceman snapped his first NHL goal down the road from home.
• The Islanders’ special teams are a disaster. They rank dead last in power play (12.1 per cent), penalty kill (64.3), and special-team goal differential (minus-14).
Roy must have loved that not a single penalty was called all night.
• Not a fan of the Morgan Rielly–Conor Timmins defensive pairing.
Neither is Berube. He abandoned the short-lived experiment before Period 1 concluded and rejoined Rielly with Oliver Ekman-Larsson for a spell before settling on Rielly with Chris Tanev.
Berube downplayed the idea that his pairs aren’t fitting quite right and chalked up the blending to him trying to find an in-game spark.
• Only Leon Draisaitl (24) has more goals this season than Nylander (23).
Nylander is on pace for a 55-goal campaign. He’s never scored more than 40 in a single season.
“He had good jump. He had the puck and wants to make things happen,” Berube said. “He’s motivated.”
• Matt Murray was returned to the Marlies Saturday morning, following his emotional win in Buffalo, and prospect Dennis Hildeby backed up Woll against the Isles.
This is the organization maximizing Murray’s useful time on the big club’s roster before he requires waivers.
Because the veteran cleared the wire in October, he is exempt from waivers until he spends a total of 10 games or 30 days with the Leafs.
With Anthony Stolarz (knee) recovering for four to six weeks, it makes sense to use Murray’s 10 waiver-free games for starts, not backup duty.
