Maple Leafs Notebook: Temperature rising round captain Auston Matthews

TORONTO — In the wake of Saturday’s debacle on dwelling ice, Craig Berube got here as shut as ever to singling out his captain.

“Our leaders got to take control of it a lot more than they are right now,” the Maple Leafs coach mentioned after a 6-3 beatdown by the Edmonton Oilers’ leaders that featured a blown lead, a rollover third interval and an absence of affect from Toronto’s superstars.

Considering William Nylander was noticeably sick and 35-year-old John Tavares has been overdelivering on his AAV, many interpreted Berube’s “leaders” remark as a nod towards the person who wears the C.

“I mean, we can all be better,” Matthews mentioned Monday, talking for the primary time since Connor McDavid and Co. ran him off his personal rink. “Obviously, the last two games, it’s frustrating. You go into the game against San Jose, got the lead, and the third period wasn’t very good. And then on Saturday, we’re in a position where the game’s right there.”

Matthews admitted the Leafs didn’t carry sufficient vitality within the third interval. He additionally stored the main focus the place Berube put it — on the leaders, plural.

“Rightfully so, it’s gonna fall on the leaders, and that is fine,” he mentioned. “We’ve got to be better in that area and make sure that when we’re in these tight games that we just keep grinding and doing what was making us successful the first two periods.”

Matthews’ evaluation of his personal play?

“I mean, it’s fine. It’s been a grind lately,” the captain replied. “You know, for us, it’s trying to string together points and wins. And I think we’ve done a pretty decent job of that over the last seven, eight, nine, 10 games.”

Most nights, the one-time Selke finalist has performed nicely defensively. He’s on tempo for a whopping 142 blocked pictures, which is able to crush a profession excessive. He’s successful a formidable 59.1 per cent of his faceoffs.

And but, the hole between the 2 captains’ performances Saturday night time accentuated the decline in Matthews’ recreation. (Clips of his tender backcheck on San Jose’s extra time winner Thursday didn’t assist both.)

“It’s not at the level that he wants it at — or us,” Berube mentioned. “And it’s not just about scoring goals; it’s just the whole game in general. But I do believe — and I know he believes — it’s going to get better here.”

Berube softened his criticism of Matthews and motioned to the crew usually. The coach has seen a dip since returning dwelling from an emotional and profitable 4-1 highway journey on the prime of the month.

“He’s like everybody else. We got to all be better,” Berube mentioned. “I’m not going to just focus on one guy. It’s not about one guy; it’s about the team.”

But one man has been positioned to be the principle driver of the crew whether it is to contend.

Matthews needed the captaincy and the $13.25 million annual wage.

For causes unclear (although well being suspicions linger), he’s avoiding contact (on tempo for simply 50 hits) and capturing much less often.

Matthews is monitoring for 38 objectives and a career-low 62 factors, assuming he performs out the season.

That Berube started the week by selling William Nylander to Matthews’ wing is a little bit of an indictment.

“I’m not seeing enough from that line in general, offensively or defensively. So, gonna move Willy up there,” Berube mentioned. “They got to work together and do things right, but could be a real good line.”

Yep, the season has been a grind. We all see it, really feel it.

“For us, for myself, personally, I mean, it’s just next game, doing whatever I can to help the team win. It’s the most important thing for us in this room,” Matthews mentioned. 

“You got to put your individual stuff to the side and that kind of pride aside and do whatever is necessary to help the team win. Of course, you want to produce, you want to score and do all that stuff. But I think the little things bleed through the locker room just as much as the big things do.”

Tanev takes significant step

Chris Tanev has been sidelined with an undisclosed head/neck harm since a “fluke hit” (his time period) by Matvei Michkov in Philadelphia on Nov. 1 required him to be stretchered off the ice and spend an evening in hospital.

The sturdy defenceman lastly ditched his no-contact sweater Tuesday and took part in full battle drills along with his teammates.

He received’t play Tuesday, and the crew received’t announce a timeline, however a pre-Christmas return has not been dominated out. 

“It’d be great,” Berube mentioned, “but we’ll see.”

Tanev thanked the medical staffs in Toronto and Philadelphia “for really taking care of me and making sure that nothing catastrophic was wrong.” 

Yes, Tanev mentioned, the scenario was scary — significantly throughout his first recreation from a concussion. 

“But when you’re around good people and surrounded by the right people, they really calm you down and make sure every everything’s OK,” Tanev mentioned.

Did the 35-year-old father and husband contemplate the long-term repercussions of making an attempt a comeback?

“You always think about things. And, yeah, initially when that happened, you talk to doctors, and you have to determine the next steps, and obviously what’s best for yourself and the game and hockey and your team and your family,” Tanev mentioned. “But really happy to be here and skate today, and it was great to be around the guys.”

Tanev has been in session with the Maple Leafs’ medical employees and at the least two different docs to find out his restoration path. He declined to say whether or not surgical procedure is an possibility.

The defenceman fulfilled the really useful six weeks with out contact Saturday and described his well being standing as a “fluid situation.”

In the meantime, he’s been skating solo or with fellow injured defenceman Marshall Rifai, along with understanding within the gymnasium.

“It’s tough for a guy like that,” Berube mentioned. “He wants to be involved, wants to play, wants to help the team. But his attitude has been good about it all, and he’s worked hard trying to prepare himself to get back.”

Though Tanev mentioned it “sucks not playing,” he was thrilled to rejoin the group.

“You can skate all you want, but getting into battles, fighting for pucks, just things happening at game speed is always an adjustment,” Tanev mentioned. “So, it was nice to try to acclimatize myself to more of a game-like scenario.”

Said Tavares: “Good sign, first and foremost, for him. But for us as well.”

Joseph Woll was an energetic participant in Monday’s up-tempo, 45-minute follow, trying each bit like a goalie who might go well with up for a hockey recreation.

Berube mentioned there’s “a chance” Woll begins Tuesday. He’s been sidelined 11 days with a lower-body harm he suffered in Carolina. 

Third-stringer Dennis Hildeby (.923 save share) has been improbable in aid, however the very last thing the coach desires is to over-exert one other netminder.

Berube gave Hildeby the mercy pull in Saturday’s blowout, partly as a result of he was “tired.”

Get Woll again within the crease.

“Dennis had a heavy workload, and it would definitely help, for sure,” mentioned Berube, who needs to be extra keen to combine in just a few extra Hildeby begins whereas Anthony Stolarz recovers.

“Well, he’s shown he can handle it. I think he did a great job for us. And going into even (the Oilers) game, we limit a couple things, he gives us another chance to win.”

One-Timers: Dakota Joshua had a tough weekend and missed Saturday’s recreation however assures he’s previous his sickness…. Calle Järnkrok might be the odd man out with Joshua returning…. Matias Maccelli (sickness) missed Monday’s follow…. Tanev couldn’t be extra thrilled that the Leafs picked up Troy Stecher: “He’s one of (my) best friends.” The buddies, who additionally joined forces on the Canucks and Flames, have now performed on three Canadian groups collectively.

Maple Leafs projected lineup Tuesday vs. Chicago Blackhawks:

Knies – Matthews – Nylander
Robertson – Tavares – McMann
Joshua – Roy – Domi
Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan

Rielly – Ekman-Larsson
McCabe – Stecher
Benoit – Thrun