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After an inconsistent effort in their 4-3 overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs made preparations for their first back-to-back of the season, starting with a playoff rematch against the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday.
Head coach Mike Babcock shook up his forward lines at the club’s practice facility on Monday, as winger Connor Brown skated with center Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner was moved to the fourth line with Matt Martin and Dominic Moore.
“Their line wasn’t going, so tie goes to the veteran. (Marner) just happens to be the kid on the line, that’s it.… Babcock said at the MasterCard Centre after practice.
The van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner line has been the worst defensively of the Leafs three scoring lines (a collective -15 in five games). The unit has compiled 14 points, but eight of those points have come on the power play.
“We’re trying to get all our units going.… Babcock said at the MasterCard Centre after practice. “It was a big win for us in Montreal, we hadn’t won there in a long time, but in saying that we did not generate a lot (of offense). We thought we could be way better as a team, so we have to find a way to be better.…
Marner has a goal and three assists in five games, but has the worst plus/minus (-6). Brown is being utilized on both power play and penalty killing units, which gives him nearly the same amount of average time-on-ice as those playing higher in the lineup.
This was a card that Babcock played with William Nylander, when he struggled defensively playing with Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman early last season. Nylander played on the fourth line a number of times and was a healthy scratch until he stepped up and put forth a more consistent effort.
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Leafs center Auston Matthews was a central figure in victories against Chicago and Montreal last week and on Monday was recognized as NHL Second Star of the Week.
Matthews recorded four goals against the Hawks, New Jersey Devils and Habs, including two overtime game-winners and leads Toronto with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in five games.
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