2 days Ago By Luke Fox
LOS ANGELES — In a game thick with sturdy defence and thin on even-strength offence, the entire outcome — not to mention the mood around the Toronto Maple Leafs ’ California swing — pivoted on Auston Matthews ’ controversial shorthanded, game-tying, third-period goal. “It’s close. It’s close.
Yeah, very close,” conceded head coach Craig Berube, following a hard-fought 3-1 comeback victory. “I was 50/50 on it.” Trailing 1-0 and in danger of losing to the clamp-down L.
A. Kings, only the NHL’s best home team, Matthews made a brilliant neutral-zone steal to gift himself a four-on-five breakaway. But when his first attempt was brushed aside by Darcy Kuemper, the captain whacked down a floating puck near his shoulder, regained possession and drilled the game’s turning point short-side after charging a give-and-go with speed.
It was the type of singular, game-breaking sequence — a cocktail of skill and effort — few are capable of. But, wait. The Kings called timeout, buying time to analyze Matthews’ lofty knockdown like the Zapruder film.
Then they challenged. And Crypto.com Arena — also split 50/50, in terms of fan support — waited.
“I was sitting in the box,” John Tavares said, “so I was just hoping it counted.” The NHL’s situation room determined Matthews’ stick “was not above the normal height of his shoulders when he contacted the puck” (Rule 80.1).
The goal stood as tall as the first star’s shoulders. The Kings nullified their own power play with a delay-of-game infraction. And the Leafs — unable to penetrate five-on-five — completed their final-frame comeback with a Tavares power-play winner, set up by Matthews.
(Tavares would also tack on some empty-net insurance and is enjoying the longest goal-scoring streak of his Leafs career.) On a suffocating night unfolding according to the dull style preferred by the Kings, the Leafs remained patient and relied on their special teams. “There’s no panic in the game,” explained Tavares, after being awarded his umpteenth Hockey Night in Canada towel.
“You can maybe feel like there’s not a whole lot going on, especially you get to the halfway point, and we’ve generated some good looks, but we haven't been able to sustain pressure. “So, just staying with it and not getting frustrated or discouraged. I liked the attitude in the room between periods.
Just going out there, competing.” Matthews forced the charge competitively, scoring the shorty, drawing a trip on Kuemper that led to Tavares’s winner, ripping a game-high eight shots, going 14-for-20 in the dot, contributing to a perfect PK, and blocking a couple key shots. “Papi was tremendous,” Tavares raved.
“Everyone else followed suit, winning battles, staying with it, competing hard. “You’re not going to find more of a complete player in the game like Auston. We all know what a tremendous offensive player and goal-scorer he is, but he makes plays all around the ice.
And his hockey sense and his ability to strip guys and read plays and the way he uses his body — he’s so good in so many different areas. That’s why he’s a catalyst and a leader in every facet of the game for us.” New Leaf Brandon Carlo finds it incredible that Matthews finds ways to contribute in all three zones.
“Some of the moves that he was making out there tonight, I’m sitting on the bench and just enjoying the show,” Carlo smiled. “The way he can go out there and continue to block shots, get the puck 200 feet. To find all-around players like that is very special, and not many of them can do as much as he can on both sides of the ice.
” Berube was encouraged by his group’s defensive response to Thursday’s shaky showing in San Jose. Gone were the odd-man rushes and the hemmed-in frights. “We kept things outside.
They threw a lot of pucks at the net, but those are easy saves for our goalie. The interior of the ice we defended really well, blocking around our net. We were hard,” Berube said.
“That’s the difference in the game for me.” And the play of Toronto’s top two centres, plus a full-cast defensive effort, serves as a sign of encouragement for the team’s final nine games. The Maple Leafs go right back at it Sunday evening in Anaheim, with a chance to take five of six points in California.
Fox’s Fast Five • Dropping the gloves for the first time in two years, Carlo engaged in a spirited tilt with call-up Jeff Malott. Malott’s older brother, Mike, is a UFC fighter. Was Carlo aware of that fun fact? “Not at all,” Carlo replied post-game, a cut on the bridge of his nose still leaking fresh blood.
“But knowing that information, I’m thankful I’m not knocked out right now. So, that's good to know, and I'll definitely do a little bit more research next time.” Carlo is the 11th(!) Leaf to fight since notorious heavyweight Craig Berube took over.
The coach jokes that he’s been teaching his players a few things. “It’s very important you stand up for yourself. And not everybody (needs to fight),” Berube says.
“Look, first and foremost, I don’t expect people to fight. Stand up for yourself. And the guys do that.
We push back. We’re not gonna get pushed around.” • L.
A. native Nick Robertson got the healthy-scratch treatment Saturday, as Pontus Holmberg returned to the lineup. “I got to make decisions, right?” Berube explained.
“I want to keep guys going as much as I can. And I thought Nick, in the last few games, lots of penalties and just some turnover things. So, I had a good talk with him today.
He’s in good shape, and he’ll be ready to go tomorrow if needed.” • The Leafs had already signed two NCAA free agents to stockpile their dwindling prospect pool. Saturday night, they added a third: fourth-year Arizona State forward Ryan Kirwan.
The 23-year-old is enjoying his best season — 26 goals, 39 points through 37 games — and will now join the Marlies on a two-year deal. • We don’t want to call the first period boring, but the loudest cheer at Crypto.com Arena was triggered by an elderly couple — hair as silver and glorious as the Kings logo — making out on the Jumbotron.
Turns out, there is no age restriction on PDA. • There is good reason the Edmonton Oilers — L.A.
’s likely first-round opponent (again) — are trying to prioritize home-ice advantage. The Kings are incredible in their own barn. Until Saturday’s regulation loss, they had matched a franchise record for home wins (26) and registered their longest-ever home point streak (15 games).
No NHL squad has a better home record (26-4-4) or a better defence in their own building..
