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The Toronto Maple Leafs saw some of their secondary players step up in the absence of star center Auston Matthews and defenseman TJ Brodie in their 7-0 pummeling of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, as Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi each had three-point nights, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies each had a goal and an assist, Bobby McMann scored his first NHL goal, and Noah Gregor and John Tavares added singles.
Martin Jones was sharp in a 38-save shutout performance for his third victory with the Leafs, taking some of the weight off the shoulders of the struggling Ilya Samsonov.
“We have played without Auston over the years at different times. The group has reacted well to that. I am certainly thrilled with how guys stepped up here throughout the lineup.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “Good energy and a good start to the game. Knies (who fought Pens defenseman John Ludvig after scoring the opening goal) and those guys got us going. The guys never really looked back from there.…
Matthew Knies' Gordie Howe Hat-Trick pic.twitter.com/7k2v4rT9Pu
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 17, 2023
The Penguins were the last team to beat the Leafs in regulation on November 25, a remarkable accomplishment when you consider that the club has been without three of their starting six defensemen through most of that stretch and lost goaltender Joseph Woll in early December.
Toronto got defenseman Timothy Liljegren back on Saturday, both Matthews and Brodie were back at practice on Monday (a good sign that both will return for their game against the New York Rangers on Tuesday), and it is expected that veteran blueliner Mark Giordano will be back around the New Year. The absence that the Leafs will have to survive through is Woll, who with a high-ankle sprain could be out until after the All-Star break.
What the Leafs recent success has bought them is time. Had the club struggled with a defense with Simon Benoit and William Lagesson, it may have forced Brad Treliving to make a move out of desperation to plug a gaping hole. Now the Leafs GM can wait for a deal with a price of his choosing and not one for an exorbitant cost.
There continues to be chatter regarding Toronto’s interest in Calgary defenseman Chris Tanev, but there are a number of teams that have interest in the 33-year-old as a rental. If the Flames overpay their hand and demand more of a return from the Leafs (as has been rumored), it is possible that Treliving will keep his powder dry and waits until the summer as was the case with big Russian Nikita Zadorov.
The cost of a first-round pick or a top prospect like Matthew Knies, Fraser Minten, or Easton Cowan is not likely to be paid from a team that has limited future assets and has traded their 2024 second and 2025 first and second in previous deals (even if the Leafs think they can sign him to an extension).
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