Tavares line, Domi trio at opposite ends for Maple Leafs

Article content

Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe is getting good, trustworthy hockey out of the John Tavares line. 

Article content

The Max Domi line, not so much.

Article content

Calle Jarnkrok, in two games since returning from a broken knuckle, has been a solidifying addition to the Tavares trio, and that line scored the only Toronto goal in a 4-1 loss against the Boston Bruins on Monday at Scotiabank Arena. The group, with Bobby McMann on the left, is being defensively responsible. 

“Bobby had a little bit of a dip in his game, but it has come back up,” Keefe said after the game. “Jarnkrok has come in fresh and and has given the group a boost. And John has just played extremely well. I think he’s played a good, honest game and waited for his opportunities, but also really pushes things on offence. It was good to see him get another goal.

“If there’s one trait of that line that you like, it’s how relentless they are. Jarny hounds the puck, John hounds the puck, McMann is really doing that well.”

Article content

Article content

Said Tavares: “The way Bobby has built his game, you can see the confidence in the way he is finding areas, attacking the net. Jarny’s awareness is really good, things that don’t get highlighted often, but he does extremely well. I’m just trying to feed off that and do my job to help those guys.”

With Domi between Tyler Bertuzzi and William Nylander, there’s a lacking in defensive awareness and general ability to stay on the right side of the puck. It’s a conundrum for Keefe.

We’re down to two Leafs games — at home against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday followed by a visit to Boston on Thursday — before National Hockey League general managers close their trade windows at 3 p.m. EST on Friday.

While the aim of Leafs GM Brad Treliving has been to add another defenceman, we wonder if he gets more serious about acquiring depth at forward, specifically a centre (Adam Henrique of the Anaheim Ducks being the best option).

Article content

The Leafs can’t take their chances that the Domi trio will figure it out once the deadline passes. It’s times like these that Toronto misses the defensively wise Ryan O’Reilly and Alex Kerfoot.

GAME ON

If the Leafs get the Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, a matchup that stands a good chance of happening, they’ll have to come up with a stronger way to defend against David Pastrnak. The Bruins star had three primary assists, giving him 35 points (18 goals and 17 assists) in 27 career games against Toronto. “Lots of things,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said of the challenges that Pastrnak presents. “His skill and his shot and his playmaking abilities, on top of his goal-scoring. He’s a great player.” … While Pastrnak stood out and made an impact on the outcome, Auston Matthews did not. The Leafs star has hit a snag, scoring one goal in five games after he had 10 in his previous five. Matthews had five shots on goal, tied with McMann for the most among Leafs, in seven attempts … Enough of Bertuzzi on the first power-play unit. Tavares should be back on it full-time. The Leafs are 0-for-9 on the power play in their past four games, including a zero on four opportunities on Monday … Joseph Woll made 23 saves in his second start after recovering from a sprained ankle, and could get another shot at the Bruins on Thursday. “I thought he was fine,” Keefe said. “Four (goals against) is too many. I thought Joseph battled. We got to get him going, we got to get him more games before we really start critiquing him. Certainly was not an issue for us (Monday).” … It seemed like it was going to be one of those nights where the Leafs were not going to score before Tavares finally did at 3:52 of the third when he beat Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman. After a Leafs lull in the first period, during which the Bruins got goals from Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha less than three minutes apart, Toronto had numerous chances … The Bruins were up 12-2 in shots on goal with a 2-0 lead when Swayman made big saves on Matthews and Domi before Simon Benoit hit the post … The Leafs nearly scored in the second — after Jake DeBrusk put Boston up 3-0 — but Matthews was unable to put the puck fully over the goal line before it was cleared. Most of the puck went over the line, just not all of it … The Leafs defence pair of TJ Brodie and Timothy Liljegren was on the ice for two of the Bruins’ three goals at five-on-five … Apparently there were 106 hits in the game — 55 by the Leafs and 51 by the Bruins. That’s what the official scoresheet said, but it sure didn’t seem like that many … Mitch Marner, who gives up five inches and 17 pounds to Brandon Carlo, won a puck battle behind the Bruins net with the defenceman in the first period and then immediately drew Carlo into taking a high-sticking minor … The Tavares goal extended the Leafs’ streak of scoring at least one goal to 206 games, the longest current run in the NHL and 11th-longest in league history. Toronto has not been shut out since Nov. 20, 2021, when it lost 2-0 at home against Pittsburgh … Brodie’s goalless streak is at 93 games. He has not scored since Dec. 31, 2022, at Colorado … Despite winning eight of their past 10, the Leafs are not a threat to pass the Bruins or the Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division standings. The Panthers are 10 points ahead of the Leafs and the Bruins eight. “It’s hard, it’s nothing new for us,” Keefe said. “The division has been great. But you can’t focus on that too much. You have to to focus on your own game and and collect as many points as you can. We failed in that regard (against Boston).”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content