TORONTO — Not on our watch. Not on our ice. Who cares if we’re playing a man down? Or we can’t solve a locked-in Jakob Dobes through the first 60 minutes?
No way we’re letting our most storied rival clinch a Cinderella playoff berth in our barn.
Such was the attitude of the undermanned Toronto Maple Leafs in their regular-season Saturday finale, in which they grinded out a 1-0 overtime victory that simultaneously clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the post-season and denied the good-vibes Montreal Canadiens a ticket to the dance (for now).
“I know people want to see another Canadian team in the playoffs. But we don’t care about another Canadian team in the playoffs. We care about our team, and that’s it,” said an impassioned Steven Lorentz, whose Leafs fandom is birthright.
“Hockey in Canada, I feel like it’s extra passionate. And those fan bases would love to see their hometown team get in. But it’s our job to not let that happen. You know, it’s a big game for Montreal tonight. They’re still clawing and scratching. Again, it’s our job to not let that happen.”
The Leafs postponed the celebration in la belle province by out-scratching and out-clawing in what was the club’s most committed defensive effort of the season.
How fitting, then, for the first and final goal of the stingy tilt to be scored by a defenceman, Mitch Marner.
Sure, Marner may be a winger by trade, but the plan for him to hop the boards in exchanged for fellow RHD Brandon Carlo in 3-on-3 action, join the rush as third man high, and pump in the clock-stopper 36 into Period 4 worked like magic.
“I kinda like it back there, to be honest,” Marner said, after registering his 98th point of the season. “I don’t feel lost or uncomfortable back there. I try to just not make it difficult on myself, try to make easy, quick plays. So, yeah, I enjoy it back there when I get the chance to play D.”
Marner has grown increasingly at ease running point, as the Maple Leafs have flipped a five-forward power play into a weapon, not a curiosity.
So, when it became evident that the Leafs could only dress five defencemen, it made sense for coach Craig Berube to take Marner aside during Friday’s practice and give the Selke finalist a heads-up that he’d be deployed on the blue-line occasionally.
“Fine with me,” Marner thought.
Considering the OT hero played two positions and both special teams, Marner’s ice time shot to 26:29 — and he’ll hit the ice 19 hours later in Carolina.
Well-protected goaltender Anthony Stolarz figures he hasn’t seen a forward pitch in on the back end since his AHL days.
“You know, the ol’ three-in-threes, when you’re on the road and you can’t call anyone up,” Stolarz said. “He did a phenomenal job, just to spell those guys and allow someone to take a breather. I know all five guys worked their tails off tonight and sacrificed a lot. I mean, we had (18) blocked shots in front that helped make my job easier. So, we appreciate Mitch doing that for us.”
Just because teammate Max Domi is impressed doesn’t mean he’s shocked: “He could do everything. So, it doesn’t surprise you one bit. But he’s unreal.”
Equally unreal was Toronto’s full team commitment to minimizing a desperate (if tired) Montreal squad’s O-zone time and odd-man rushes.
Adhering to Berube’s strict morning message, the shorthanded Leafs were smart with their line changes, committed to clogging the middle ice, and diligent with their backchecking.
The Canadiens failed to register a single even-strength shot on Stolarz in the first period and finished with 15 shots total, the fewest Toronto has allowed all season.
And that’s without the services of top-four minute-munchers Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, both of whom are out injured with no specific return date.
“Our D, when we really needed them, they were unreal for us,” Marner said. “Some big, key blocks. Some big, key stick plays. But as a group, we just committed to playing defence first tonight — and that’s something that you’re happy to see.”
Mixing and matching just five D, four of them skating well over 20 minutes apiece, what does that feel like on the bench?
“Feels like you got a little bit more space to sit,” quipped righty Carlo, who shifted to the left during his O-zone shifts with partner Marner and Auston Matthews’ line up front.
“He knows that I’ll be the one to stay behind and do the defensive side. And having four guys as lethal as the players that we have on the ice can create a lot of anxiety for the other team. So, they were probably interested in what to do as well.”
Now that home ice is secured, and a sixth defenceman, emergency call-up Dakota Mermis, will join the Leafs, the interest lies in whom Toronto will welcome in Round 1 — and if the Habs can secure their spot Monday.
Except Lorentz isn’t so concerned about that last bit.
“I’m a Leafs fan. I’ve been one my whole life. Even when I’ve played on other teams, I’ve always had that extra soft spot in my heart for the Leafs,” Lorentz said.
“Now I only have one team to cheer for — and that makes it easy for me. So, I don’t care if you’re from Canada, U.S., Mexico, wherever. I’m cheering for the Leafs.”
And in one week, so too will Scotiabank Arena.
“Hopefully our fans are ready to go,” Domi said. “Because we will be, for sure.”
• The Canadiens are determined to ease Ivan Demidov into the lineup, so their dynamic import was limited to morning skate only in Toronto. He’s expected to debut Monday at home versus Chicago.
A very conservative (read: boring) choice and a missed opportunity. This is an entertainment product.
Throw the big hype out there on a Saturday night. Make theatre. Have fun. Try to win.
You can’t convince me a rested Demidov isn’t at least the 12th-best option Martin St. Louis had at forward on the second half of a back-to-back.
• Ever-willing Max Domi (5-foot-10, 209 pounds) challenged Kaiden Guhle (6-foot-3, 202 pounds) to a fight as retribution for Guhle’s hard (but clean) open-ice hit on John Tavares.
Domi got dinged for an unsportsmanlike minor on top of exchanging fighting majors.
“Little bit of miscue on my part,” Domi admitted. “You don’t want to take the extra two; that’s why I kinda waited as long as I did.
“I was talking to the two refs out there, and they said that you got to actually make a play, like a hockey play, and then you can fight. I didn’t. I didn’t know that, to be honest. But now I know.”
• Toronto’s Game 1 starting goalie debate is over.
Stolarz has won seven consecutive starts, posting blank sheets in two of the past three.
The best streak of his career at the most important time of year.
“Very good composure with his structure and tracking pucks, playing the pucks,” Berube says. “He’s just got really good composure.”
• The two youngest Maple Leafs are just out here playing a kids’ game…
• Asked about the challenge of facing the Canadiens, Berube is quick to single out Calder favourite Lane Hutson, the latest young defenceman whose fleet feet and playmaking ability makes oncoming wingers pay.
“There’s more and more for sure. I can name a number of guys in the league that do the same things as he does,” Berube says. “They really put you on edge. I’ll tell you, it’s hard to handle.
“In the D-zone, these guys are so elusive. You go out on them, they make a move, and they get by. They create time and space for themselves, and they can make plays. He’s an elite passer. He finds people, and he’s always looking to make plays.”
