For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs 13-game home winning streak ended with a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Air Canada Centre on Monday, in part because of an impressive two-goal outing by Jack Eichel and a 39-save performance from Sabres veteran backup Chad Johnson, but also because the Leafs are playing games that have little consequence.
With six games remaining, Toronto has a 12-point lead on Florida and trail Boston by seven points for second place in the Atlantic Division. Other than achieving individual goals and setting a franchise record for victories in a season, the only thing that Leafs players are looking to do is avoid injury.
As they did in their victory over Detroit on Saturday, the Leafs had stretches of being careless with the puck and also missed the net on scoring opportunities. That fact was not missed by head coach Mike Babcock in his post-game critique of Toronto’s first home loss since January 22.
“I thought we were a little bit loose. We've got to hit the net, we had so many opportunities in the offensive zone and we failed to hit the net.… Babcock said. “The bottom line is we did lots of good things, we didn't win the game. I still think we can be better without (the puck) at times. I thought we turned it over a bit too much – too cute – and in the end you go home disappointed.…
Toronto’s offense was limited to a 71-second outburst late in the second period keyed by veteran Patrick Marleau, who created a turnover behind the Buffalo net that led to Nazem Kadri’s 30th goal of the year and scored his 24th of the season on a feed from Auston Matthews.
Babcock once again sang the praises of the fourth line of Andreas Johnsson, Tomas Plekanec and Kasperi Kapanen (even though they were on the ice for Casey Nelson’s third period tying goal and Eichel’s game-winner), saying they played well and were effective, but he was quick to point out that there will be changes when Leo Komarov is able to return from a lower body injury.
“Maybe I don't (fit Johnsson in the lineup when Komarov is ready). I can tell you Leo is going in for sure.… Babcock said. “We need a heavy body and a penalty killer. He's a man. That's just the way it is, but I think (Johnsson) has been real good.…
What the Leafs lineup will look like will depend on who they play in the first round. Komarov will be especially necessary in a matchup against the physical and feisty Bruins, likely moving into a top-nine role to play against the Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak line.
Against the speedy and deeper Lightning, Johnsson’s quickness and skill might be valuable on a fourth line, but it’s hard to imagine the Leafs head coach sitting Kasperi Kapanen or Komarov to insert him into the lineup.
*******
Defenseman Roman Polak was nominated by the Toronto Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the 2018 Bill Masterton Trophy on Tuesday. The award is for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey and Polak was selected based on his recovery from a severe leg injury in the first round series against Washington last April.
“I took it day-to-day. I‘m not going to lie, I didn’t need this (award nomination), I did it for myself, to prove I could (come back),… Polak said to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun . “I’m looking forward to (the playoffs) because we have a great team. It’s going to be a lot of fun. It was tough (last year), when you’d waited all year for playoffs and it lasted two games (because of the injury).…
The 31-year-old blueliner was played occasionally early in the season and had difficulties with the pace of the game, but has been relied on more by Babcock to the point where he has been a fixture on the bottom pairing with rookie Travis Dermott and on the penalty killing unit with Ron Hainsey.