The Maple Leafs practiced Wednesday at City National Arena in Summerlin, Nevada.
While the Leafs are averaging just 2.71 goals per game (26th overall), Sheldon Keefe is shaking up his forward lines.
“Obviously we didn’t score and, apart from scoring, we controlled the game as we would like, especially with our last six,” explained the coach. “So I’m looking to achieve a bit of a different look, a different balance.”
During Wednesday’s practice, Alex Kerfoot moved from third-line center to first-line left wing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Michael Bunting moved in to skate alongside Calle Jarnkrok, who moved to center, and Denis Malgin, who was a healthy out the last three games. The second row with John Tavares between Nick Robertson and William Nylander stayed together.
“Bunting’s presence on this line gives us additional opportunities in attack, especially [when] you also put Malgin in there,” Keefe said, “So looking to get a little bit more of that band that way. And, at the same time, I wanted to give Kerfoot a look on the wing.”
Bunting finished third on the Leafs with 58 points in 5-on-5 last season. He’s tied for the team lead with three points at 5-5 this season.
Kerfoot lined up mostly on the wing in the top six last season. His 43 points in five-on-five ranked him fourth on the team. He has just one point at 5-5 this season.
“Me, Calle and Pierre [Engvall], I think we started the year pretty well,” Kerfoot said of the initial look of the third line. promotion… The whole group needs to play a little better. So it’s just a matter of shaking it up and going from there.”
David Kampf continues to center the fourth line but will now be flanked by Engvall and Zach Aston-Reese, who was a healthy scratch on Monday.
“I wanted to get Engvall back with Kampf,” Keefe continued. “Kampf and Engvall played good minutes and tough minutes for us at key times last season.”
Engvall, who had 15 goals and 20 assists last season, remains scoreless this year and was retired healthy Saturday in Winnipeg.
“We have to get the best out of Pierre,” Keefe stressed. “His return to training the other night didn’t go as I expected. He needs to find another level here but, at the same time, I need to help him find that rhythm.”
Kampf, known as a defensive stopper, is the only Toronto player with two 5-on-5 goals this season. Jarnkrok, Nylander, Malgin, Robertson, Bunting, Marner, defender Justin Holl and Matthews each have one.
“The Matthews Line [and] Tavares’ lines did a good job of generating enough scoring chances,” Keefe said. “We think they can be even more dominant, but they did a good job. We need to see more consistency in the line-up.”
If the other rows can work more, that will help the first two rows produce more, Keefe believes.
“If we can get a little more traction line after line, there’s benefits across the lineup that your top guys can get out of it.”
The Leafs averaged 3.8 goals per game last season, which puts them in second place.
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Matthews leads the team with 27 5-on-5 shots and 33 total shots. His shooting percentage (3) is well below his career average (16.1).
“I’ve been there before, so I’m not sure it’s a super unusual situation,” Matthews said of the dry spell. “I approach things a bit the same way. Just work, have fun and shoot the puck. Once you get in, I hope you just have to get going, find that trust and carry on.”
This is the slowest start to the NHL season for Matthews. Last year he started similarly with one goal in six games before going on a torrid run and finishing with 60 and another Rocket Richard Trophy.
“It’s really impressive how he behaves on a daily basis,” observed Tavares, who leads the team with eight points. “It’s like he just turned 51 [goals] in 50 [games] like he did last year. He behaves so well and there is just a dynamism and poise that is so rare. To do what he has already done in his career, especially at a very young age playing in Toronto in the spotlight, you have to have that. »
After Monday’s loss, Matthews admitted he was dealing with some frustration. On Wednesday, he pointed to one area that can be improved.
“Have a little better rhythm offensively [and] do even more things in the middle of the ice and in the slot,” he said.
Matthews emphasizes puck possession.
“We can kind of work a little better in the neutral zone and try to create cleaner entries instead of having to throw the puck and chase it all the time,” he pointed out.
The coach’s advice on the front line?
“It’s more consistently about changing shifts having that attacking mindset,” Keefe said. “I’m not comfortable with the puck, more like really defensive and tough… Other than that, stick with it. Stay positive. Stay hungry and I have no worries about that.”
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Kerfoot also played with Matthews and Marner late last season when Bunting was sidelined with injury.
“I’m not changing my game too much, but obviously it’s a good opportunity,” Kerfoot said. “They’re two of the best players in the league, so it’s just about giving them the puck as much as possible, working hard, using my speed and letting them do their thing.”
Matthews calls Kerfoot an easy guy to play with.
“I don’t want to say he gets over it, but he gives you the puck and obviously we want the puck as much as possible,” Matthews said. “He just does a really good job of opening up and [is] very intelligent, very cerebral.”
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Tavares left Monday’s game in the third period after taking a shot from Rasmus Sandin at 97 miles per hour.
“Sandy figured it out and put me on the outside of the knee,” Tavares recalled. “Doc said it was just on a nerve too, that’s why the pain was what it was. I couldn’t put any weight on it for a good 10 minutes. I’m really glad it was just a bruise. It was quite painful.”
Tavares needed help getting off the ice, but he eventually returned to the game.
“I also got hit earlier in the same quad, so the leg wasn’t pulling as well when I came back, but everything was stable,” he revealed. ” The last days [there] hasn’t swelled too much and the pain has definitely lessened from yesterday to today.”
All things considered, Tavares was happy with how he felt in training.
“It was a little stiff, a little sore, but it progressed pretty well,” the 32-year-old center said.
What does the bruise look like?
“Actually, it’s not that bad,” he said. “Like, there’s really no muscle where it is. It’s just outside the bone on my left side… Yeah, the swelling isn’t bad, the pain isn’t isn’t too bad today, so really happy.”
Sandin apologized for missing the boat.
“I said he had no reason to be sorry,” the captain noted. “I mean, he tries to put the puck in the net. So that’s part of the game and it just put me in a difficult situation.
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The Leafs flew to Las Vegas after Saturday’s game in Winnipeg and stayed in Nevada for a day off Tuesday and practice Wednesday. It was a well deserved break in the middle of a long five game journey.
“When you hop from town to town on long car trips, it takes a lot of your time with all the commuting, all the jet lag,” Tavares said. “So that gives you some time to acclimate, especially after the stretch we just had. But, most importantly, it’s really good to spend time together away from the rink and to continue to build that chemistry.”
What did the Leafs do on their day off?
“Different guys did different things,” Kerfoot said. “We didn’t do much. No golf or anything, but we had a little team dinner and tried to get things back on track.”
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Brave winger Kyle Clifford suffered a shoulder injury in Monday’s game and has been placed on the injured list.
“He’s going to run out of time,” Keefe said. “It doesn’t seem like anything too serious at this point, but he’s going to be out for a little while.”
The team is waiting for the MRI results.
Defenseman Filip Kral has been recalled from the American Hockey League.
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Defenseman Jake Muzzin, who suffered a neck injury Oct. 17, has been moved to long-term injury reserve.
“No clarity. No timeline. Nothing has changed,” Keefe said when asked for an update. “It’s more about roster management. I know he didn’t get the follow-up [appointment] he was supposed to have.”
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Keefe has confirmed that Erik Kallgren will start Thursday in San Jose.
Wednesday training lines:
Kerfoot-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Sparrow – Jarnkrok – Malgin
Aston-Reese-Kampf-Engvall
Simmonds, Dawn-Kubel
Rielly – Brodie
Sandin – Holl
Giordano – Mete
kral
Samsonov
Kallgren
Power play units in Wednesday’s practice:
QB: Rielly
Flanks: Matthews, Marner
Midfielder: Nylander
Net front: Tavares
QB: Sandin
Flanks: Malgin, Kerfoot/Engvall
Midfielder: Robertson
Net in front: Angel’s nest
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