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Good Wednesday to all!
Last night was a good, rewarding, playoff type hockey game for the Leafs, but also a cathartic victory for a few reasons. Not only did they beat the Bruins who before last night held a record of 13-1 against Toronto in their last 14 meetings, but they also won in regulation – something the team hasn’t achieved too often in their previous 20 some games. In fact, the Leafs have only won 13 of their 23 total wins this year in regulation, and prior to last night, their last was seven games ago.
As mentioned, last night’s game appeared very similar to a playoff game between the two “rivals…. Since losing to the Bruins in an epic meltdown during game seven of last year’s playoffs, the Leafs have certainly not lost sight of the importance of these "morale boosting" victories, and were pleased with the game and their effort.
“It’s fun. It’s why we play hockey — that little pressure, that extra pressure. I thought we reacted in a good way,… Bernier said.“I thought the atmosphere was awesome. I think both teams played hard, and lots of hitting in that game,… said Bernier. “When we get skating and we hit a lot, I think we get a lot of energy from our bench and we play very well.…
The above has been something missing from this team over their last month or two – intensity (I think I spelled it correctly eh Burke…Ryan?). I digress. Anyone who has watched this team play over the past two months will tell you that the team often shows small samples of hard work, but the very next shift would be flat. The team, for whatever reason, was simply not working hard or united, and it was costing them valuable games and points.
This team, arguably still shy of a number one centerman and according to Damien Cox a number one goalie, must play to their strengths every game if they are to find success. Those strengths should be rather evident by now – a hardworking, physical game. As Bernier put it, this team plays their best when they are physical. When they finish their checks, block shots, crash the net…essentially, when they play with heart, they are a tough team to play against.
While it is still a little early to say that they have improved upon, or fixed their play of late, what has been offered on the ice most recently has been strides better than what we saw just a few weeks ago. If Toronto is going to pull themselves back into a comfortable playoff spot and prove to Mr. Leiweke that October was in fact, not a “fluke…, they are going to need to continue playing to the intensity of last night while continuing to improve upon their defensive gaffes.
There is still no question that the Leafs are struggling defensively, as was displayed last night. When Toronto is on their game, their defensive pairs are playing a very simple, fast moving defensive system and are not trying to be pretty. Last night, the defense was chasing the puck a little too much, tried too hard to create plays where none existed, and caused a few too many turnovers. While it was evidently better than previous games, there is still much to work on in their own end.
As I touched upon above, the Leafs are still thought by many to be shy of a number one centerman, and while I agree to an extent, I feel that Tyler Bozak is starting to make a case for himself in this league.
Taking a lot of criticism for his play since being placed on the first line alongside Phil Kessel, Bozak has not been able to satisfy the pundits and fans alike. Is it because Bozak is one of few NHL players who found a level of success despite not being drafted?
Is it because Bozak is a homegrown asset, in a sense, that was brought in from the college ranks and is being compared to other first round drafted centers of the NHL, that he needs to further prove himself?
Let’s consider a few things.
Firstly, when most have discussed in previous years what type of centerman the Leafs needed between Kessel and Lupul/JVR, most descriptions were toward a defensively responsible, play making centerman with size who can create space for, and protect Kessel.
While Bozak may not possess all of these qualities, there should be no denying that the 27 year old has found a certain level of chemistry with Kessel, has been excellent in the faceoff dot, and often covers his line mates butts when it comes to the defensive side to their game.
The biggest point, I feel, is that Kessel and Bozak have been one of the highest scoring lines in the NHL for the last few seasons. In fact, last year Kessel finished as the 7th highest scoring forward(tied with Kunitz). With that established, you would almost assume that Bozak would be relatively high as well right? Well, Bozak finished 101st, but is this a sign of weakness for the centerman?
What these stats do not show, and something most fans fail to realize, is that while his point totals may have been low, Bozak was the most relied upon forward by his coaching staff. In fact, Bozak averaged 20:18 minutes ice time a game which ranked him18th among all forwards in the league last year. Moreover, while Kessel and Lupul/JVR were relied upon for scoring, Bozak played the PK, played the PP, and ensured that their first line was defensively responsible…for the most part.
“I look at the sum of the parts,… Carlyle said. “You try to fit people together and put people in situations where they can work well together. Obviously before I came here there was a bond that had developed between Kessel and Bozak, and it just seemed natural to carry that on… “Bozak was an integral part of that [being an effective line]. Obviously the faceoffs are a big issue as far as starting with the puck. I think he was our top centre ice man in the faceoff circle. Then he got to start to take more important draws from a defensive standpoint and penalty killing and using him in that area and then on the power play. All those things are a compliment to him. That’s why he was so highly thought of during the summer months.…
Bozak is not often credited for his own work in terms of point productions, but his latest play has said otherwise. Tyler has put up six points in his last five games played, and eight points in seven games since January 1st alone. Having one of his best years to date, he has posted 22pts in 24 games played this year.
While most would argue that he is nothing than a faceoff or PK specialist, Bozak has certainly improved upon his point totals. He has been the Leafs most consistent player since returning from his injury and appears to be silencing many critics. He’s getting the job done folks, should a top line center be doing much more?
Now, I realize that the majority of this blog has been shedding a positive light on Bozak as it’s nice to focus on all the positives at the moment, but it’s often easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, too.
The fact remains that Bozak still has several areas of his game which could improve, when compared to the rest of the league’s top centermen. Bozak is not a very aggressive player, and playing between Kessel and JVR who are two players that could stand to be more physical, they may find it challenging to compete against teams who will try to shut down their offensive prowess.
If the Leafs find themselves within a playoff spot this year, it will be this line which receives the attention of their opposition. If Bozak’s line is constantly shut down physically, the Leafs will then need to rely on their secondary or tertiary scoring. That said, is their top line strong enough to compete in the playoffs, or is their current success only strong enough for regular season play?
What do you think? Is Bozak actually making a case to be considered a legitimate first line centerman in the NHL, or do the Leafs still need to focus on acquiring one if they succeed beyond what their most recent seasons have offered?
Thanks for reading!