Columnist image

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

| Archive

TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes from Maple Leafs practices and game-day skates. The Leafs take on the Oilers tonight at the Air Canada Centre. ​

Auston Matthews did not appear to be in great shape after an awkward third-period collision with Morgan Rielly last night in Pittsburgh, but Toronto's leading scorer stayed in the game playing a couple more shifts. After the final buzzer, he left the ice in apparent discomfort and may miss tonight's game against the Oilers.  

“He’s one of those guys that’s bumped and bruised here today," said head coach Mike Babcock. "We have a couple guys. You know, it’s the season, you’re playing hockey and you see who’s available at game time.”

On Saturday, Matthews was held without a point for a third straight game making this his longest drought of the season. He was also held without a shot for just the second time in his NHL career. Matthews has just one goal in the last nine games. 

If Matthews is out, that puts even more responsibility on the shoulders of Nazem Kadri. The pesky centre spoiled Connor McDavid’s homecoming game last season and should see plenty of No. 97 tonight with Babcock owning last-change advantage. 

“I want to play against the best players," Kadri said. "That is why I dreamt of playing in the NHL. I’m a very competitive person, not just on the ice, but in anything I do. I don’t like to lose and I love to win.”

Kadri won big last year when the Oilers visited the Air Canada Centre. He scored two goals, including the overtime winner, while keeping McDavid off the scoresheet. 

"It was great," Kadri recalled before quickly adding, "I’m not going to sit here and hang my hat on one game."

So, what's the key to a repeat performance tonight? 

“He’s got jets for sure so I just got to make sure I kind of prepare myself and get a little closer to him and try to bump him every single time I can to stop his feet from moving, because if you’re running into somebody I don’t think your feet will be moving too fast. I have to try and be proactive and be one step ahead," Kadri explained. 

Neutralizing McDavid's blazing speed is crucial. 

“You just got to read the play," Kadri said. "It’s all on instinct whether it’s coming up, skating with him, getting your gap back. He likes to swing in the neutral zone and come back and generate speed and usually you get those flat-type passes from the defenceman so if he’s going to do that you have to gap up with him and make sure he doesn’t have too much space to burn ya.”

While Kadri had his hands full dealing with Evgeni Malkin's line last night, McDavid and the Oilers cruised to a win against the Canadiens. 

"We had a hard game for two lines in particular," Babcock said. "Played them a lot because they played their two groups so much so we have to get everybody on the ice tonight especially out of the gate." 

Toronto's fourth line should be well rested after sitting out most of the third period in Pittsburgh. William Nylander, in particular, should have energy to burn after playing a career-low 8:39. 

Meanwhile, Kadri played 15:36 at even strength in Pittsburgh, which is significantly higher than his season average of 14:11. Babcock insisted he's not concerned about his top guys wearing down. 

“The mind drives the body," the coach noted, "and if you come in here and you feel tired and you let yourself feel like that then you’re tired ... I guarantee you, if we had something fun to do they’d find lots of juice to do it.”

McDavid averages 21:24 of ice time this season, but played just 17:59 last night in Montreal. 

Toronto will hope its offensive depth comes through tonight and the Tyler Bozak line certainly appears to be hitting its stride. 

"You learn how to win by winning all the time and different guys make different sacrifices," Babcock said. "Last night, Bozak’s line, for all intents and purposes, got us the win. That’s really good for our team. You want multiple lines being able to step up."

While Kadri tangled with Malkin and Matthews dealt with Sidney Crosby, Bozak's unit exploited the bottom of the Penguins lineup. 

"Winning battles, getting the puck to the net," Mitch Marner said when describing last night's formula for his line. "If we do that then we'll be successful. We've been getting the chances, they just haven't been going in for us and hopefully last night was a step in the right direction." 

Bozak scored twice and added an assist against the Penguins. It was his first three-point night of the season and matched his output in the previous 13 games. 

"We’re confident," Bozak told reporters on Saturday night. "We played really well last year and we know what we can do. We feel really good out there, it’s just nice to get some bounces and get the puck in the net and hopefully that trend continues."