MAPLE LEAF NOTES: Marc-Andre Fleury taking "mental picture" in final stops

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This is an emotional week as the Marc-Andre Fleury farewell tour nears its end.

After backing up Filip Gustavsson’s 3-1 win on Wednesday night in Toronto, his final home province scheduled start is Thursday in Montreal with upwards of 100 relatives and friends coming to send off the future Hall of Famer.

While joking it has been hard to answer the same questions the past four months, the 40-year-old was very accommodating to a large morning media pack at Scotiabank Arena, as club officials tried to prod him towards the team bus. It’s hard for him to squeeze 1,000-plus games and 571 wins into quick soundbytes.

The Bell Centre will be extra meaningful for a kid weaned on the Habs through many nights on television.

“I loved Patrick Roy because at that time I was learning the butterfly, but I loved all the goalies,” Fleury said. “I played hockey so much in my (Sorel) neighbourhood, on the street, the outdoor rink, in the basement, pretending I was Roy, making a Game 7 save.”

Fleury has already been through Pittsburgh, where his name is on three Stanley Cups starting in 2009, Chicago where he made a pit stop, and Vegas where he helped the Golden Knights become immediate contenders.

“I said this would be my last year, because I was tired of everybody asking (about retirement),” he laughed. “I have so many great memories. Just going back in old buildings and seeing people around the league, old teammates, staff members and fans. It brings back so much.

“You try and take it in, a little pause to look around and take a mental picture.”

During Wednesday’s pre-game warm-up, he exchanged greetings with hi former Penguins’ stablemate, Toronto’s Matt Murray. Fleury insists he’s strong health-wise, grateful to last so long at a position that can chew a person up and get the ideal amount of work as a back-up in his sunset season.

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“It’s the best job in the world and to go out on my terms, that’s something many guys can’t do. I feel very fortunate.”

Coach John Hynes says going through Pittsburgh and Montreal with the Fleury hoopla takes the edge off a road trip.

“He’s so beloved. You get that on your own rink, but in a visiting rink it’s a unique experience. The reason he’s a Hall of Famer is that he can handle all those things around the game, the family, the friends, the media. When he’s locked into the game, his competitive juices kick in.”

 HOLM BASE 

While many take a dim view of Leafs depth at centre when the club has to plug in low-scoring Pontus Holmberg for John Tavares, coach Craig Berube faith was rewarded to a degree on Wednesday.

Holmberg stayed between William Nylander and Max Domi and after a frustrating night with lots of gas, but no finish, he set up Nylander for Toronto’s only goal. He’s positionally fine most games when elevated in the lineup, but seems a step behind and a few pounds too light for the heavy going. He tried to bull his way into Filip Gustavsson’s crease a couple of times.

“I’ve talked to Holmer a few times,” Berube said before the game. “When I watch him, I see the way he can skate, transport it up ice and hang on to it in the offensive zone.

“I believe there’s a lot more offence there with him. It’s more of a confidence thing. He doesn’t want to make a mistake. He has to change his mind set and be more aggressive.
“There’s ability there, I see a lot more than we’re getting.”

Holmberg and Nylander usually communicate in Swedish on the ice, which may not seem to help Holmberg’s slow command of English.

“I understand English,” Holmberg insisted before the game. “Willy talks to me in Swedish, but both (languages) help me.”

Berube is most interested in Holmberg getting current team goal leader Nylander the puck, then going to the net himself.

“(Nylander) will do his thing,” Berube said. “He’s one of the best I’ve seen at hanging on to pucks, cutting back and creating space. He needs you (Holmberg) to get to the net.”

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NATIONS BUILDING 

Wednesday was the last home game before the Leafs top guns split off in mid-February to their respective 4 Nations Face-off teams. Nylander is repping Sweden, Mitch Marner Canada, Auston Matthews the U.S. and defender Jani Hakanpaa for Finland, pending his knee problems.

American GM Bill Guerin of the Wild caght up with Matthews at SBA in the morning, while Berube joined the Leaf chorus hoping defenceman Chris Tanev gets a call from Canada’s Don Sweeney to replace Alex Pietrangelo. The latter was on Berube’s 2019 St. Louis Blues’ Cup team.

“Looking at their lineup, what Tanny brings, Petro does, too, with the penalty killing and shutdown stuff. That’s Tanny’s baby. He’d be a great fit.”

Nylander was asked if there are any side bets in the Leaf room about who will win head-to-head 4 Nations games.

“Not yet,” he deadpanned. “But I talked to (Matthews) that we might drop the gloves.”

Nylander added Team Sweden has started an on-line chat group, but no one has yet to chirp. Down the hall were future teammates in the Wild’s Gustavsson, Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson-Ek, Nylander’s one-time world junior mate. Minnesota also had Brock Faber and Matt Boldy on Team USA, where Boldy looks forward to time with Matthews.

“He’s someone I look up to and admire his game a lot. He can score from anywhere, on top of how big he is. To see it first-hand will be cool.”

LOOSE LEAFS

Toronto’s loss and Florida’s win put the Panthers first in the Atlantic Division by a point … Wednesday was Joseph Woll’s first loss in seven games where he was coming off of three day’s rest … The Wild blocked 22 shots … Matthews won 15 faceoffs, the rest of the Leafs a combined 16.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

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