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The primary month of Brad Treliving’s first season as normal supervisor of the Maple Leafs hasn’t precisely gone as deliberate.
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The coach he prolonged for no actual purpose, Sheldon Keefe, hasn’t regarded very Jack Adams-like.
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The free-agent signings Treliving made — $5.5 million for Tyler Bertuzzi, $4.15 million for John Klingberg, $3 million for Max Domi, about half of that for Ryan Reaves, $14 million in all — have regarded like wage cap area badly misused and haven’t produced something to be actually optimistic about within the early season. The lineup that Treliving believed was higher defensively than many perceived it to be has not been in any respect tight.
And the goaltending he hoped could be common to above common has been common to beneath common.
Monday evening began out prefer it was about to start the newest Leafs disaster, the primary of this new season. The Leafs trailed the previously dynastic Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 within the first interval and appeared on their approach to a fifth straight defeat. By the point the primary 20 minutes have been performed, Nikita Kucherov had contributed 4 factors, only one greater than Bertuzzi had managed in his first 11 video games in Toronto.
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By the point the evening ended, Auston Matthews had handed the San Jose Sharks in goal-scoring, the Leafs had gained in extra time in opposition to their arch-rival — these Lightning video games are loopy, however enjoyable to observe — who can’t appear to win something after regulation within the playoffs or common season. For these counting, that’s 11 straight extra time losses for the Lightning.
And for these relying on the flipside, that’s simply three regulation victories in 12 video games for Treliving’s Maple Leafs.
However the win mattered for the 6-4-2 Leafs, who wanted to finish a shedding streak of 4 within the early season and, greater than that, wanted to point out some life and a few drive and a few vitality and a few give-a-damn that hadn’t been actually evident within the early a part of the common season.
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If that was one other evening to surprise about Treliving’s roster — and there may be nonetheless a lot to surprise about — it was an evening of some triumph for coach Keefe, who wanted one thing to go his manner.
He moved the rookie, Matthew Knies, to the road with Matthews and Mitch Marner, which is the promotion of all promotions for a child. Knies didn’t get the appointment as a result of he essentially grabbed it. He bought it as a result of these chosen earlier than him, Bertuzzi and Calle Jarnkrok, dropped the baton.
Knies scored a purpose on his first evening with Matthews and Marner, made a talented backhand move to Matthews for a purpose, regarded like he tipped a Matthews shot for one more purpose (he didn’t tip it, he simply screened goaltender Jonas Johansson) and appeared utterly snug having a three-point evening and a plus-4 ranking on his first full sport this season alongside Matthews and Marner.
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The Knies transfer to the primary line meant a revamped third line with Max Domi centring Jarnkrok and the callup Nick Robertson.
It additionally meant, because the evening went on, the third line had slightly extra pace than normal, slightly extra drive, a contact extra desperation.
Domi has not had a robust starting to his dream time with the Leafs. However taking part in centre Monday evening, a place he hasn’t typically performed, he appeared a step faster, a contact extra enthusiastic, and he started a play that arrange Jarnkrok’s first purpose of the sport, coming after he bought the puck to Robertson, whose fast supply led to a rebound rating.
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One purpose from Jarnkrok tied the sport at 4-4 after the Leafs trailed 4-1. The second purpose gained the sport in extra time, that uncommon piece of ice for Jarnkrok at 3-on-3, with William Nylander getting one more level on an evening he did little else, on a three-way passing play with Morgan Rielly.
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The Leafs bought the win, however concern stays. You’ll be able to’t play successful hockey and should rely on scoring 5 or 6 an evening. Ilya Samsonov began in purpose for Toronto and allowed 4 objectives on 13 photographs. His evening ended early. Joseph Woll got here out of the bullpen to select up the victory, stopping 18 of 19 photographs.
You’ll be able to’t dwell efficiently off a lineup that doesn’t contribute extra up and down the roster. Bertuzzi, who’s bringing new that means to the phrase atypical, has scored two objectives this season, each on the ability play. Domi made a distinction on Monday evening, however nonetheless is goalless in 12 video games. Reaves hasn’t scored or performed a lot else for that matter. Klingberg is a hold-your-breath form of defenceman: You by no means know what’s going to bought proper or unsuitable at any time limit.
The Leafs have a busy week. The brand new Battle of Ontario on Wednesday evening. The Corridor of Fame sport Friday in opposition to Calgary. The red-hot Vancouver Canucks seeking to embarrass them on Hockey Evening in Canada after which the journey to Sweden. It’s a complete lot of hockey in a scant few days.
It’s a time for the Leafs to attempt to discover themselves and decide who they’re. That is nowhere close to the staff Treliving envisioned.
ssimmons@postmedia.com
twitter.com/simmonssteve
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