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For those who still hold doubt about a potential playoff run by the Maple Leafs, we hope you tuned in on Saturday night.
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In a game against one of the top teams in the National Hockey League and in a playoff-type atmosphere, the Leafs turned in one of their better efforts of the 2023-24 season.
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The Leafs beat the New York Rangers 4-3 in a shootout at Scotiabank Arena, a victory that was secured when Max Domi beat Igor Shesterkin and Victor Trocheck, with a chance to prolong the game, hit the post behind Ilya Samsonov.
“That was some of the chatter (in the dressing room) between the second and third, that we expect to be in a lot of these from here on out,” Leafs captain John Tavares said. “We know what playoff hockey is all about and we want to continue to work, to earn our spot. Those are the types of games, the type of efforts, that you’re going to expect.”
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A similar night on the job is bound to happen on Monday, when the Leafs play host to the Boston Bruins.
Samsonov was brilliant, getting the fans out of their seats to chant his name on several occasions. He finished with 32 saves, including a lunging stop on Artemi Panarin in overtime.
Seconds after Mitch Marner hit the outside of the Rangers’ empty net with a shot from the Leafs end, Trocheck scored the tying goal at 18:53 of the third.
Tavares had given the Leafs a 3-2 lead at 7:17 of the third when a Calle Jarnkrok shot pinballed off Tavares and past Shesterkin.
A terrific glove save by Samsonov on Adam Fox with under three minutes also was among his top saves.
“Certainly the stakes are high and there’s not a lot of margin there and a great goaltender down at the other end,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I thought (Samsonov) got better through the game as the game got tighter. He was great, looked extremely confident and comfortable.”
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LYUBUSHKIN INJURED
Defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin, in his first game after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, did not play after he absorbed a hit into the corner boards from giant Rangers rookie Matt Rempe late in the second period.
Keefe said Lyubushkin suffered a “head injury.”
There was no penalty called by referees Ghislain Hebert and Mitch Dunning, even though it was a clear charge by the biggest guy in the building, never mind the ice. The Leafs have plenty of reasons to be upset, no matter the extent of Lyubushkin’s injury.
“We have to get him figured out,” Keefe said, controlling his anger. “(Rempe) comes a long way, leaves his feet, hits him in the head, injury.”
As you would imagine, the Leafs have to hope that it’s not a serious injury for Lyubushkin. And if it is, no NHL general manager will give Leafs GM Brad Treliving a break before the trade deadline comes on Friday afternoon.
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Matt Dumba of the Arizona Coyotes, Sean Walker of the Philadelphia Flyers or Alexandre Carrier of the Nashville Predators could come into sharper focus for Treliving.
NYLANDER BENCHED
After he was benched in the first period, William Nylander ran his point streak to 10 games when he tied the game midway through the second.
Nylander didn’t give Keefe much choice but to make an example of him.
Nylander, whose 83 points are four shy of his career high set last season, didn’t see the ice again in the first period after he blew the zone right before Alexis Lafreniere scored to give New York a 1-0 lead at 11:33. Lafreniere had plenty of time to shoot as Nylander showed no hustle to get back into the defensive zone, gliding into the high slot as Lafreniere fired a shot past Samsonov.
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Nylander was back taking a regular shift with Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi in the second period.
“I loved how he responded, for sure,” Keefe said. “I thought he competed hard, dug in.
“Willie knows what we need from him in that moment. I’ve coached Willie for a long time. I met with that line (on Friday) with some very specific things and that wasn’t it. That’s the way it goes. Great goal, important goal for us, but I just thought he dug in and competed a lot harder.”
Still, just when we think those kind of plays are out of Nylander’s system, we get a reminder that the lapses remain a possibility. At this point in Nylander’s career, it shouldn’t be that way.
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THE FIGHT
A desired fight between Ryan Reaves and Rempe finally happened at 14:01 of the third.
We say desired because fans booed when it became clear a few times earlier that the two weren’t going to scrap despite being on the ice at the same time. When they dropped the gloves — fighting at centre ice, no less — the crowd roared as Reaves landed a few punches. Neither man went down before the scrap was broken up.
“I thought it was good, especially considering the guy knocks one of our guys out of the game,” Keefe said. “I liked that Reavo stepped up.”
Domi, who would know a thing or two about the role considering the way his dad Tie made a livelihood in the NHL, couldn’t say enough good things about Reaves.
“Hardest job in the game,” Domi said. “There’s absolutely nothing even close to it. To sleep and to prepare for a game is one thing, but knowing you have to put yourself at at risk, anything can happen in a situation like that. It’s most selfless job in all of sports. He’s one of the best, if not the best, at it right now. We all have so much respect for him. It was a huge confidence boost for our group.
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“It was great to see the fans were looking forward to it and it was awesome. I got a lot of respect for both those guys.”
GAME ON
Nylander is the first player in Leafs history to record three separate streaks of 10 games or more in one season … Not a bad way for Domi to celebrate his 29th birthday. “It’s always fun being around the boys on your birthday, so it’s nice to spend the morning with them and then get the two points,” Domi said. “It’s the best birthday present you could ask for.” … With an assist, Morgan Rielly tied Tim Horton for the third-most points by a defenceman in Leafs history with 458. Borje Salming holds the record with 768, with Tomas Kaberle next at 520 … Auston Matthews won 18 faceoffs, tying his career high for one game … The Leafs came to play from the opening faceoff, but Shesterkin matched each chance with a big save. Of the Leafs’ 12 shots on goal in the first period — none of which went in — Shesterkin’s best save was on Matthew Knies, who redirected a shot from the edge of the crease … Samsonov stretched out to stop former Leaf Jimmy Vesey on a breakaway not long after the Lafreniere goal. Vesey’s chance came after a TJ Brodie put the puck on his stick … Marner made it 1-1 at 3:54 of the second when he slipped the puck along the ice and between the legs of Shesterkin. The Rangers didn’t need much time to restore a one-goal lead when Trocheck beat Samsonov 69 seconds later … Jarnkrok had brought his usual energy on a line with Tavares and Bobby McMann after he missed the previous 13 games with a broken knuckle. Jarnkrok hadn’t played since Jan. 24 and was hurt in practice two days later. With Jarnkrok activated from injured reserve, Nick Robertson was loaned to the Toronto Marlies. Robertson, who does not require waivers to go to the minors, had one goal in his past 14 games … Timothy Liljegren was in the lineup after missing two games with an undisclosed injury and played 19 minutes 53 seconds … A moment of silence was held before the game for former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who passed away on Thursday.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
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