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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes from Maple Leafs practices and game-day skates. The Maple Leafs held an optional practice on Wednesday before travelling to Nashville.  

* Mitch Marner has been just as noticeable as Auston Matthews at times this season, but the winger has seen his production tail off a bit of late. And on Wednesday head coach Mike Babcock explained why. "Mitch got sick here a bit ago," the coach revealed. "I don't think he's had the same kind of pop, but he seems to be turning the corner health-wise. We need him, obviously, to drive a group for us." Marner has three assists in the last eight games. On Tuesday, he was held without a shot for the first time since March 2. He only had one shot on net against the Sabres on Saturday. Babcock was asked if Marner, an incredible playmaker, needs to adopt more of a shooter's mentality. "Like all young guys who are a work in progress, it's going to take time," Babcock said. "Things don't happen overnight. The problem with the league is, if you don't establish a shot, they don't honour you and they take away the pass. Over time, he's working on that. He's working hard in the shooting room with other guys each and every day. That'll make a difference for him over time."

* Matthews said that Wendel Clark visited him in the dressing room after Tuesday night's game. "I saw him in the locker room and took a picture with him," said Matthews, who broke Clark's franchise rookie goals record by scoring his 35th of the season against the Panthers. "He's an awesome guy. He congratulated me and everything. It was a special night."

Hours before he broke the 31-year-old record, Matthews walked into the Air Canada Centre alongside good buddy Mitch Marner and Tyler Bozak. The veteran centre entered the Leafs dressing through the side door, which most players use. Matthews and Marner took a more circuitous route going through the main entrance. "There's a door over here, guys," Bozak chirped. "You can go in here!" On Wednesday, Marner noted that Matthews started the ritual. "We've walked through that (main) door pretty much the whole season and we'll go say, 'Hi,' to Bill and Glenn, the two guys working the door there," Matthews explained, "just something we've done the whole season." The fact the teenager has struck up a quick bond with the Air Canada Centre ushers is just another sign of how grounded he's remained despite the lofty heights reached. 

On Wednesday, a big local media contingent camped out in front of the rookie's stall to rehash his record-setting performance. Matthews answered politely, but did his best to refocus the discussion on the team's ultimate goal. "We still got seven games left," he said. "We got work to do. We want to play hockey after those seven games." Has he surpassed his own goals for the season? "I didn't really put any numbers in my head. I just wanted to get better every day and have fun and I think I've done that so far." 

In a media session at the first intermission on Tuesday night, Clark outlined why he believes Matthews has bulged the twine so much as a freshman. "The pretend goal-scorers are going high top glove all the time. When you watch Auston shoot, he's like low, between the legs, blocker side – he's going percentages," Clark told reporters. "If there's no goal on the shot there's going to be something on the rebound or maybe another shot or a teammate's got it. So he really thinks the game. (It's) more about how to get the goal than (for it) to be a pretty goal." Matthews was asked if he's always making calculated decisions on his shots based on the percentages. "Not all the time," he said. "I mean, I think you just shoot where you think it's going to be open or if there's no angle just create a rebound for a second-chance opportunity." 

Teammates have grown accustomed to Matthews' quick release, but for newcomer Brian Boyle it has been a revelation. "It's exciting to be able to watch him so closely now," the veteran pivot said after Tuesday's game. "Just seeing what he can do even in traffic where it looks like the play's dead and he can keep the play alive (is impressive). He had a shot earlier in the game that was kind of on and off his stick at an awkward angle and it almost went in and I was really impressed. I was shocked he got it off and he had a lot of steam on it and got it on net."

Matthews did not hit the ice for Wednesday's optional practice, but was still refining his craft by logging time in the team's rapid-fire shot machine. And while Matthews did his best to strike a modest tone, Marner continued to marvel at his friend's performance. "It's pretty crazy," Marner said. "Everyone thought he'd be, obviously, good for this team, but I don't think anybody thought he'd be this good."

* The following players took part in Wednesday's optional practice:

FORWARDS: Brian Boyle, Matt Martin, Josh Leivo, Ben Smith

DEFENCE: Matt Hunwick, Connor Carrick, Alexey Marchenko, Martin Marincin

GOALIE: Frederik Andersen 

INJURED: Eric Fehr (hand) worked out on the ice before practice with skating consultant Barb Underhill