After a thrilling overtime win over the Dallas Stars thanks to two goals from Nick Robertson, including the game-winner, the Maple Leafs travel to Winnipeg for a matchup with the Jets on Hockey Night in Canada (7 p.m. EST, Sportsnet) .
An electric start to the season from Nick Robertson and a gash in the win column gave everyone a breather after a tense few days in the Toronto market. Having found a way to win three games all by 3-2 scores, the Leafs are hoping some team ties on the road can help them settle into their season and find their groove offensively, especially for the front row which remained calm by its standards through the first five games.
The road trip begins in Winnipeg against a Jets team that has alternated wins and losses in four games. After winning their home opener, they had a short three-game road trip that started with a loss at Dallas, an overtime win at Colorado and a loss at Vegas on Thursday. The Jets have already received a blow to their forward core as Nikolaj Ehlers was placed on IR after missing the previous two games. As a result, Mason Appleton was promoted to the front row alongside Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.
The X factor is the same as in the last few years of rather mediocre hockey in Winnipeg: Connor Hellebuyck. Everyone knows the star goaltender by now, and the first period against the Golden Knights proved just how vulnerable the Jets can be without their cleat between the posts.
On the Leafs side, while they may not have the elite goalie option, Ilya Samsonov has quickly earned his team’s trust with consistent play in the three games he has started. (all 3-2 wins). He hasn’t been otherworldly – of the six goals he’s conceded, some of them he’d want back – but he’s been good enough for a team that should be able to score enough and to suppress enough shots to win with a good enough goalkeeper. (the Leafs are only allowing just over 25 shots per game on average so far).
Toronto makes some roster changes ahead of Samsonov. Sheldon Keefe gives a new tool to the last six: Zach Aston-Reese joins Alex Kerfoot and Calle Jarnkork, while Pierre Engvall and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (both useless until five, with their minutes falling in recent games) take their place for veteran grinders Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds.
This is likely as much a head-to-head decision as it is performance or messaging (in Engvall’s case), as the history between these teams dating back to the Canadian Division, particularly in this building, is definitely a factor here. On the last visit to Canada Life Centre, the aftermath of the carnage included suspension for Jason Spezza, injury to Rasmus Sandin and Mark Scheifele’s infamous quote: “Is there anything better than beating the Leafs? »
In Engvall’s case, he paid $2.25 million because he’s supposed to be consistent enough in what he brings night and night that he doesn’t end up a healthy scratch anytime soon. That said, he missed training camp, and there is a story of Sheldon Keefe using the carrot and stick approach with the big Swede. He contributed a bit on the penalty kill, but the lackadaisical five-on-five play earned him a look from above tonight.
Tie up for an HNIC rivalry game in Winnipeg with a divided crowd charged atmosphere and the heavyweights on the Leafs fourth line.
Match Day Quotes
Sheldon Keefe on the decision to recall Kyle Clifford and insert him on the fourth line:
It gives us a different look at the fourth line. It gives us a chance to have Cliff and Simmer involved in our band. It’s a good time for that.
Both guys bring us a lot of energy both on the bench and on the ice. Going into this road trip, we could use that.
Keefe on the history of heated rivalry games against the Jets:
It looks like there may be elements of the Canadian division left where we’ve played them 10 times or something. They are also just two competitive and highly skilled teams that have had a lot of home and away games against each other.
There is a new coaching staff in Winnipeg, but I think a lot of those things would stay. On our side, I think it’s just to give us a different look. We have the ability with our depth to change the look of our team – in particular, the depth of our team.
Heading into the season and into camp, it’s something I thought we’d do at different times when we felt like we could use a little more energy and a little more energy with a little more presence of veterans in our team.
Keefe on the team’s fourth row results so far:
The results were not what I had hoped they would be. However, the game has been stacked very heavily against them – and that’s by design. Expecting them to get good or great results given how deep I buried them in the defensive zone and the types of matchups they’ve had… I mean, they started in the defensive zone more than anyone in the league and play against some of the toughest competition than anyone in the league – certainly anyone lower in the roster.
It was a challenge for them in that way. I just think that, as I look at it individually, each player didn’t give us a reason not to change things if we felt it was necessary. There’s no one I said to, ‘They absolutely have to be in the lineup because they’re playing so well.’ It gives us the opportunity to move some things around.
I still believe in the different elements that we have there. We’ll just try to find the right mix.
Keefe on Engvall’s start to the season:
I think he seemed hesitant and hesitant to skate. It’s his number one asset: moving his feet with and without the puck to get involved. He hasn’t done it here yet. It’s a bit of a reset for him here tonight.
I talked to him yesterday about clearing his head. He is an important player for us. I know he has more ability to positively impact our roster. He had a good season last year. We are looking for it to build on it. It didn’t go the way he or I would have liked to start the season.
He’s an important guy. We have to move it forward.
Keefe on balancing empowering a second unit on the power play scoring twice against Dallas and wanting to roll the top unit:
It’s something the coach has to deal with for sure. We had a lot of power plays the other day. It’s a balance for me to give the second unit a reward for the work they’ve done and get them out there, but also, you want the first group to work through what they’re going through and find their groove.
After Kerfoot’s goal the other night, we started the second group and tried to change the pace that way by giving the second group the first minute or so. It didn’t go very well for them. We want to go back to the traditional look from there, with the other group starting first, like we normally do.
It’s one of those things. You want to give the other guys a little more. It’s not going well for them, and now you’ve rejected them. There is a real balance there. Having these guys take over for us on the second unit clearly made a big difference in the game for us.
Auston Matthews on having Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds on the lineup:
Ultimate teammates and ultimate warriors. Over the course of their career, they’ve really worked their way up to have the career that they had. They are two guys who play physically, who will always support you and who bring a lot of energy and intensity to our team. I really don’t think it’s a negative thing to have guys like that in the lineup.
Matthews on the team’s performance across five games:
We’re 3-2, and I don’t think we’ve played as well as we’d like or touched the ceiling of what we think there is for our team.
It’s a really good and important road trip for us to start here, especially at the start of the season, and for us to come together, build chemistry on and off the ice and have fun playing hockey. .
Toronto Maple Leafs projected lines
Attackers
#58 Michael Bunting – #34 Auston Matthews – #16 Mitch Marner
#89 Nick Robertson – #91 John Tavares – #88 William Nylander
#12 Zach Aston-Reese – #15 Alex Kerfoot – #19 Calle Järnkrok
#43 Kyle Clifford – #64 David Kampf – #24 Wayne Simmonds
Defenders
#44 Morgan Rielly – #78 TJ Brodie
#38 Rasmus Sandin – #3 Justin Holl
#55 Mark Giordano – #98 Victor Mete
Goalkeepers
Entry: #35 Ilya Samsonov
#50 Erik Kallgren
injured: Jake Muzzin, Matt Murray, Timothy Liljegren, Jordie Benn
Supplements: Pierre Engvall, Denis Malgin, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel
Winnipeg Jets projected lines
Attackers
#81 Kyle Connor – #55 Mark Scheifele – #22 Mason Appleton
#91 Cole Perfetti – #80 Pierre-Luc Dubois – #26 Blake Wheeler
#36 Morgan Barron – #17 Adam Lowry – #Saku Maenalanen
#71 Axel Jonsson-Fjallby – #19 David Gustafsson – #89 Sam Gagner
Defenders
#44 Josh Morrissey – #4 Neal Pionk
#64 Logan Stanley – #2 Dylan DeMelo
#5 Brenden Dillon – #88 Nate Schmidt
Goalkeepers
Entry: #37 Connor Hellebuyck
#33David Rittich
Injured/Withdrawn: Nikolaj Ehlers
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