Auston Matthews hit the nail on the head late on Tuesday night.
Consider that the Leafs are 13-2-2 in games following a loss in regulation. Just twice this season they’ve lost in regulation in consecutive games.
Consistency has been key, and yes, we can all point to it being the regular season and not the playoffs, but would you rather have the opposite or something less? Of course not.
The Leafs, who had a well-earned day off on Wednesday, aren’t a team that stumbles and can’t get up.
With 18 games remaining, there is plenty of time for Keefe to get it all right, though it is unfortunate he won’t have centre Ryan O’Reilly until, probably, the last handful of games before the playoffs.
OIL COUNTRY
Speaking of teams on long trips, Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will be finishing one when they pull into town to play the Leafs on Saturday.
The Oilers started a week-long journey with a loss in Winnipeg, followed by a win in Buffalo. On Thursday, they will visit the Boston Bruins.
As the Leafs begin a four-game home stand, Matt Murray will get the start in net against the Oilers, barring anything unforeseen in practice.
Samsonov has provided his Leafs teammates with a chance to win just about every time it has been required. Murray’s wealth of experience is seen as a factor when the Leafs’ post-season starter is debated. Let’s see it on display as the final stretch continues.
WINNING FORMULA
Matthews’ goal in New Jersey was the 51st game-winner of his career, putting him fourth on the Leafs’ franchise list, one more than Ron Ellis.
It’s the number of games played, in comparison to those ahead of him, that further crystallizes Matthews’ value. It’s quite impressive, how quickly Matthews moved into the top four.
Sundin played in 981 games for Toronto; Keon played in 1,062. Mahovlich skated in 720 games for the Leafs, Ellis in 1,034.
Matthews is nowhere near any of them, coming in at 464 games played.
Among current Leafs, William Nylander is next with 32 game-winners, enough for 14th on the franchise list.
LOOSE LEAFS
Jake McCabe’s play in the final minute in New Jersey, including a block just before time expired, was instrumental. If O’Reilly is the most important player general manager Kyle Dubas acquired prior to the trade deadline (and we think he is), McCabe is not far off. He’s a stabilizer and knows when to get physically involved. Even better, he’s under contract for the next two seasons at just $ 2 million US against the salary cap … Morgan Rielly and Pontus Holmberg share a birthday on Thursday. Rielly turns 29, Holmberg 24 … The last word goes to Samsonov, who knows how valuable he has been. “Right now I feel good,” Samsonov said after beating the Devils. “I think about playoff time, need to get ready for playoff and feel perfect, not injuries, not nothing.”
