Leafs look to shut down McDavid, Oilers in second meeting
From article by Kristen Shilton
Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe knows that many of the accolades his team has garnered on its current 10-game point streak fall on top players like William Nylander, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews.
But the real story of Toronto’s success goes beyond its first two forward lines.
“A lot of attention gets put on our guys who produce a lot and at a high rate, and we certainly need those guys to produce,” said Keefe after the Leafs’ practice on Sunday. “But you also need balance; you need the other guys to contribute at different times. Even our fourth line. Sometimes they don't get to produce in terms of the puck going in the net…but they’ve kept the puck in the offensive zone and allowed some of our best guys to come over the boards fresh to get scoring chances so that's part of the balance too is just getting those types of contributions that assist the difference-makers to do their thing.”
It would be hard to decipher, based on the last 10 games, which of Toronto’s units is truly its top one anyway, setting up a 1A-1B situation between Matthews’ and Tavares’ groups.
The Leafs don’t mind that though and appreciate how it enhances their attack, while giving everyone plenty of chances to rack up points. Over the last 10 games, Matthews has produced 17 points (nine goals, eight assists), Marner has 16 (six goals, 10 assists), Nylander has 15 (eight goals, seven assists) and Tavares has 11 (three goals, eight assists).
“I think it’s been great,” Matthews said of the offence coming together. “I feel like all four lines are contributing and obviously depending on the night, one line is maybe contributing more than others, but when we’re balanced and everyone is involved, it’s pretty hard to contain.”
Recently the Leafs have also benefited from timely secondary scoring, from a go-ahead goal by Travis Dermott in Winnipeg on Thursday to a sensational set-up from Kasperi Kapanen to Pierre Engvall against the New York Islanders on Saturday. Knowing that offence can come from anywhere these days takes some of the pressure off the Leafs top point-getters, allowing them to play the game more freely.
“When you’ve got all four lines that can create offence, you just become that much harder to defend,” Tavares said. “You’re very confident that you're going to find your opportunities and find ways to break through so you're able to stay patient. You’re able to control the game and have good possession and defend well, knowing you don't have to press or count on one or two lines.”
READ MORE
https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-maple-le...d-edmonton-oilers-in-second-meeting-1.1422820
Last time Leafs met Oilers...
MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
Zach Hyman Auston Matthews Mitch Marner
William Nylander John Tavares Alex Kerfoot
Pierre Engvall Jason Spezza Kasperi Kapanen
Mason Marchment Frederik Gauthier Timashov/Brooks
Morgan Rielly Tyson Barrie
Martin Marincin Justin Holl
Travis Dermott Cody Ceci
Frederik Andersen
Michael Hutchinson
SICK BAY
D Jake Muzzin (foot)
LW Andreas Johnsson (leg)
LW Trevor Moore (concussion)
RW/LW Ilya Mikheyev (wrist)
From article by Kristen Shilton
Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe knows that many of the accolades his team has garnered on its current 10-game point streak fall on top players like William Nylander, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews.
But the real story of Toronto’s success goes beyond its first two forward lines.
“A lot of attention gets put on our guys who produce a lot and at a high rate, and we certainly need those guys to produce,” said Keefe after the Leafs’ practice on Sunday. “But you also need balance; you need the other guys to contribute at different times. Even our fourth line. Sometimes they don't get to produce in terms of the puck going in the net…but they’ve kept the puck in the offensive zone and allowed some of our best guys to come over the boards fresh to get scoring chances so that's part of the balance too is just getting those types of contributions that assist the difference-makers to do their thing.”
It would be hard to decipher, based on the last 10 games, which of Toronto’s units is truly its top one anyway, setting up a 1A-1B situation between Matthews’ and Tavares’ groups.
The Leafs don’t mind that though and appreciate how it enhances their attack, while giving everyone plenty of chances to rack up points. Over the last 10 games, Matthews has produced 17 points (nine goals, eight assists), Marner has 16 (six goals, 10 assists), Nylander has 15 (eight goals, seven assists) and Tavares has 11 (three goals, eight assists).
“I think it’s been great,” Matthews said of the offence coming together. “I feel like all four lines are contributing and obviously depending on the night, one line is maybe contributing more than others, but when we’re balanced and everyone is involved, it’s pretty hard to contain.”
Recently the Leafs have also benefited from timely secondary scoring, from a go-ahead goal by Travis Dermott in Winnipeg on Thursday to a sensational set-up from Kasperi Kapanen to Pierre Engvall against the New York Islanders on Saturday. Knowing that offence can come from anywhere these days takes some of the pressure off the Leafs top point-getters, allowing them to play the game more freely.
“When you’ve got all four lines that can create offence, you just become that much harder to defend,” Tavares said. “You’re very confident that you're going to find your opportunities and find ways to break through so you're able to stay patient. You’re able to control the game and have good possession and defend well, knowing you don't have to press or count on one or two lines.”
READ MORE
https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-maple-le...d-edmonton-oilers-in-second-meeting-1.1422820
Last time Leafs met Oilers...
MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
Zach Hyman Auston Matthews Mitch Marner
William Nylander John Tavares Alex Kerfoot
Pierre Engvall Jason Spezza Kasperi Kapanen
Mason Marchment Frederik Gauthier Timashov/Brooks
Morgan Rielly Tyson Barrie
Martin Marincin Justin Holl
Travis Dermott Cody Ceci
Frederik Andersen
Michael Hutchinson
SICK BAY
D Jake Muzzin (foot)
LW Andreas Johnsson (leg)
LW Trevor Moore (concussion)
RW/LW Ilya Mikheyev (wrist)
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