LEAFS NOTES: Craig Berube happy with the process, Leafs players glad for Vlad Guerrero Jr.
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They’ve won four in a row and are 8-1-1 in their past 10 games.
So, yes, the Maple Leafs are on the right side of coach Craig Berube as they head into Florida for a back-to-back set against the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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LEAFS NOTES: Craig Berube happy with the process, Leafs players glad for Vlad Guerrero Jr. Back to video
What’s more, the Leafs — with a lead for first place in the Atlantic Division — have their destiny in their hands as they square up for their last six games of the 2024-25 regular season.
Heading into National Hockey League games on Monday, the Leafs were four points ahead of the Lightning and six up on the Panthers. The Lightning was scheduled to play in New York against the Rangers on Monday.
The Leafs will get an injury-riddled Panthers team on Tuesday in Sunrise before heading across the state to play the Lightning on Wednesday.
“I like how we’re progressing,” Berube said. “We go into these games, they’re pretty tight for the first couple periods, but we’re not trying to open it up or anything like that. We’re staying with our game and the third periods have been really good.”
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The latest example came on Saturday when the Leafs led the playoff-desperate Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 entering the third period. The Leafs didn’t give the Jackets anything in the final 10 minutes, scoring three goals for a 5-0 win.
“We have to keep pushing, playing smart, checking, not opening the game up, not forcing pucks, making good puck decisions, the checking side of things, we’re going to keep hammering away at that,” Berube said. “I like our process right now.”
In short, it’s the way the Leafs should be playing with the Stanley Cup playoffs around the corner.
“We’re putting the team first in all aspects of our game, and doing things the right way, no matter what the situation or what the game brings,” captain Auston Matthews said. “The structure that we’ve been playing with, making it harder on opponents, defensively being in good spots and communicating with one another, we’ve been doing a good job.
“This is the time of year when you want to really be rounding out your game and playing with confidence and going into the post-season firing on all cylinders.”
The Leafs will face one of the Panthers, Lightning or the Ottawa Senators in the first round (sorry, Montreal Canadiens, we don’t see you moving up from the second wild-card spot), and Berube, Matthews and Matthew Knies were asked if it mattered which team the Leafs draw.
Each said it didn’t, but Knies mentioned something about seeing “some of those teams in the second round.”
A bit of a slip, as the Leafs know they will have enough on their hands to start the Cup tournament. We won’t hold it against Knies.
MCCABE, KAMPF ON ICE
Neither defenceman Jake McCabe (undisclosed) nor centre David Kampf (upper body) went on the road for the quick trip, but there were encouraging signs for both on Monday.
The injured Leafs skated on their own on at the Ford Performance Centre and we might expect them to do the same while their teammates are away.
“Looks like it,” Berube said when asked if the two were progressing. “They’re skating, which is good.”
Forward Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) and defenceman Jani Hakanpaa (knee) took part in practice.
Hakanpaa played in two games in November, the only two NHL games he has played in since last March when he was with the Dallas Stars.
“That’s still a question, right?” Berube said in reference to Hakanpaa’s status. “He’s still working at it, so we’ll see where he gets to. He could be an option. He’s a guy that has played a lot of playoff games, been around, does a good job of what he does. Hopefully he can get to (a point) where he’s capable of coming in and helping us if we need him.”
HAPPY FOR VLADDY
The Leafs were pleased to see that the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reportedly agreed on a contract extension to the tune of $500-million US over 14 years.
“I’ve been fortunate to get to know him a little bit over the years,” Matthews said. “He’s an incredible player, still a really young player and a franchise kind of guy.
“It’s pretty cool to have a guy like him wrapped up for the next several years. It will be fun to continue to watch him and the Blue Jays.”
John Tavares had the same line of thinking.
“That has to be really exciting for every Blue Jays fan, certainly the city of Toronto and I think across Canada,” Tavares said. “We know they are Canada’s team when it comes to baseball.
“He’s certainly a cornerstone player and he has had a great start to his career. Good for him. He’s a great talent and I know people who love the team, love Vladdy.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Nearly every Leafs player was on the ice for the optional skate, with only Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Tavares choosing to stay off … Knies on attempting, and failing, to score using the Michigan move against Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins on Saturday: “The puck was kind of rolling, so I thought it was a good opportunity to do it. It was probably the closest I’ve ever got, but it kind of sucks that didn’t go in.” Knies said he tried the move a couple of times in college, but didn’t score … Curtis Joseph is among the 28 NHL goalies who faced Alex Ovechkin in a game, took an Ovechkin shot and didn’t allow a goal, and as such the former Leafs netminder was presented with a custom can from Budweiser Zero as recognition. The can for each goalie includes his jersey number, shots faced and the stat of zero goals against. Joseph stopped two Ovechkin shots in one career game against the Washington Capitals star, who broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record on Sunday against the New York Islanders when he scored his 895th in the NHL. Another goalie who has stopped an Ovechkin shot but not allowed a goal is the Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz, who has four saves in one game against Ovechkin. “Hey Ovie, congratulations on breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record,” Joseph said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “But you didn’t get one on me. Two shots only, but zero here is the important number.”
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