TAKEAWAYS: Less glamourous side of the game gets it done for Leafs in Anaheim

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The Maple Leafs should get used to close games such as Sunday in Anaheim.

Given they’re playing teams fighting for everything from first place to wildcard positioning down the stretch, hanging on for a 3-2 win after losing a two-goal lead is indicative of what’s ahead.

Our takeaways from the final game of the California road trip that provided Toronto a three-point lead atop the Atlantic Division – for now.

DEFENSIVE PLAY DELIGHTS

The Leafs blocked 22 shots to the Ducks’ nine, blueliner Simon Benoit had a bounce-back game, Joseph Woll was clutch, and the fourth line not only checked but supplied the winning goal, Steven Lorentz via David Kampf.

That’s what’s often the difference at playoff time.

“The fourth line played well, controlling the pucks, making plays, driving the puck deep,” first line winger Mitch Marner told media in Anaheim. “I was very happy to see them get rewarded, especially that kind of goal.

“Big saves from Joe and when we needed (penalty) kills, we got ‘em. We knew this wouldn’t be an easy game, but we stuck with it.”

Coach Craig Berube, notably, made no lineup changes after it looked like Benoit could do with a night off for Philippe Myers and that consecutive games would be time to bring back Nick Robertson. Benoit helped spring Marner’s breakaway goal, assisted on Lorentz’s and was a plus three, Pontus Holmberg stayed in the lineup, albeit used sparingly on the fourth.

“Did what we had to do,” declared Berube. “We knew what type of game it was going to be (the youthful Ducks coming in waves) and we handled it. We came back to the middle of the ice and we protected it.”

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WINNING FORMULA

That’s seven goals for Lorentz, four of them game winners.

Even Lorentz found it funny he might be circled by the opposition as a scoring threat in future games.

“I didn’t know that was my fourth (who can forget his shorty to take down the Avalanche 11 days ago), but that’s the way the game works sometimes. You might get one chance late and I’ve been fortunate to put those in.”

He hasn’t forgotten his day job.

“We trust our goaltending, the systems that we play. We have defencemen willing to block shots and it’s a full buy-in by wingers and centremen,” he said. “But we’re comfortable if a centre goes up to wing, a winger has to fall back to centre.”

DOMI-NATING DEKES

Max Domi walked Leaf nemesis Radko Gudas on the game-opening goal, fulfilling a wish of those who want him to shoot more rather than be an overly generous passer. Marner, who had his own neat schnook to fool goalie Lukas Dostal, was more jacked to talk about Domi’s backhander up top.

“Unreal, but not surprising,” Marner said. “That’s what he’s got in his bag and I’ve seen for many years since London (both were Knights’ juniors). That’s a hell of a fake shot to get across, pull it to the backhand and get it up in a hurry.

“A good play by his linemates, too, Scott Laughton reading the play in the D zone to get it to Calle (Jarnkrok) and kick it up to Max.”

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME

A night after beating a coach’s challenge that looked iffy on an Auston Matthews high stick, allowing his shorty in L.A. to stand, the Leafs thought they’d make it 2-for-2. But a favourable angle that showed Marner’s blade contacting the puck as he bent over was not all that video review had as a resource. Thus a Matthews to Matthew Knies goal was wiped out.

“I was hoping we’d get the bounce like the other night,” Marner said. “I asked the refs if it was because of my height that it got called off (Marner isn’t the tallest Leaf). We’re having some tough bounces, but hopefully it changes.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby