UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Let’s recap a three-hour span of John Tavares’ night at work on Monday.
Gets booed at Nassau Coliseum by fans of the New York Islanders, though not as mercilessly as he was in the Maple Leafs’ previous visit; endures chants of “We don’t need you!” among others; scores his 46th goal, setting a Leafs franchise mark for most by a centre; sets personal high with 87th point of the season; his goal not only is the game-winner, but it officially clinches the Leafs a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.
And in the end, that’s really all that mattered to Tavares after the Leafs’ 2-1 victory put them in the post-season for the third year in a row.
“It’s great to punch your ticket,” Tavares said. “You work so hard all year to give yourself a chance and to be a part of it, so every opportunity, you want to take advantage of it. It’s great to be in it.
“We put a lot of work into it and we have a lot of work ahead.”
The Leafs, who tied a team record with their 23rd road win, have three regular-season games remaining before taking on the Boston Bruins in the first round, a rematch of the opening round last year when the Bruins broke the Leafs with a stunning third period in Game 7 to win the series.
The Leafs had no interest in continuing deeper into the week without a playoff spot locked up. The idea was that the club’s collective mental state will be better with the comfort of knowing the post-season is a sure thing.
“Finally, we took a few tries to clinch it but, obviously, it’s great to be back in the playoffs,” said goalie Frederik Andersen, who made 28 saves. “Hopefully, we can get revenge from last year. Most of the team is here still and it should be an exciting series.”
The Leafs have a shot at starting on home ice, but it’s slim. The Bruins also have three games left and are four points up on Toronto, 103-99.
Defenceman Calle Rosen scored his first National Hockey League goal in his season debut as the Leafs were strong from start to finish, often keeping the Islanders from having any sustained time in the offensive zone.
With just over five minutes remaining, Islanders forward Jordan Eberle scored a power-play goal.
Tavares’ goal came with nearly four minutes gone in the third period when he took a pass from Mitch Marner and fired a shot past Robin Lehner on the netminder’s short side. There was a muted response, but the goal was booed when it was announced.
Darryl Sittler had set the mark for most goals, with 45, by a Leafs centre in 1977-78.
Importantly, the Leafs got a strong game from Andersen, who struggled through the month of March. Andersen was in a zone from the opening faceoff, getting square to the shooters and ensuring he could get a handle on each shot coming his way.
Rosen — who didn’t have his own stall in the dressing room after the morning skate and had to change using only a folding chair — scored his first NHL goal in his fifth game when his shot from the point eluded Lehner at 2:17 of the second period. The shot appeared to hit an Isles stick on the way in as it dipped and fooled Lehner.
“I can’t say I’m completely sure how it went in but, for sure, it was a good feeling,” Rosen said.
The Leafs, who play host to Carolina on Tuesday, didn’t have an unhealthy Andreas Johnsson.
Toronto won for just the fourth time in 11 games and as the regular season wraps up, will have to keep trying to bring the same kind of determination it used to beat New York. It was a good start in the final week.
“I think what we’ve been through this last little bit, even though we’ve been playing better and better defensively, we haven’t been winning every night,” coach Mike Babcock said. “I think it’s probably good for our group. It’s nice for John Tavares, for us, to come back in here and for him to get the game-winner, for the way our club played and to clinch a spot.”
ROSEN ARRIVES
Now that his apprenticing in the American Hockey League is done — likely for good — Rosen is intent on making an impact with the Leafs now and in the foreseeable future.
Rosen played in four games for the Leafs at the start of 2017-18 and on Monday played in his first NHL game since Oct. 17, 2017. This past December, Rosen signed a two-year contract with the Leafs that kicks in next season.
“I’m ready for this now,” Rosen said. “That’s what I’m going for (to be a Leafs regular) and for sure I’m hoping for it. I think I’m confident in myself and my game and I’m just going to go out there and do my best.”
Babcock had it in mind during the off-season that Rosen would be ready to assume a role with the Leafs this season from the outset. That didn’t happen, but there is full confidence that Rosen has made the necessary steps to help the Leafs.
“We thought, probably, (he was written) on your napkin last summer that he was going to be on the team,” Babcock said. “It didn’t go that way at training camp. He has had a good year.
“Playing in the National Hockey League on D, and playing in the American League are two different things, as we have seen. Saying all that, we like his skill-set.”
How has Rosen improved in the past couple of seasons with the Marlies?
“The biggest thing is your ability to play without the puck, your ability to defend, your ability to stand in the right spot,” Babcock said. “There doesn’t appear to be a lot of stats for that, but it matters to coaches and it matters to winning. And you can’t get scored against.
“The biggest thing is getting comfortable, knowing when to go and not to go, how to box out, how to take sticks, how to play on the D side and make sure you don’t get scored on.”
Rosen’s participation will depend on the health of Jake Gardiner, who continues to make his way back from a back injury.
It’s next season, probably, that Rosen will be expected to solidify his roster spot. There’s significant change on the blue line coming, as Gardiner, Ron Hainsey and Martin Marincin are headed for unrestricted free agency.
The Leafs, and Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe, have done their part in helping Rosen develop. It’s on the 25-year-old Rosen to demonstrate he was worth the investment.
“It’s almost two seasons later, so I think I have grown a lot,” Rosen said. “I’m really used to the game over here and I think can contribute more than before.
“For sure you want to have a chance earlier, but I have been down there playing my best and now I get the chance.”
ONE MORE TIME
Here’s a thought: When Tavares returns to face the Islanders in New York for the first time next season, maybe those of us in the media don’t have to ask what it’s like for the ex-Isles captain to come back for the third time.
We get the sense there is always going to be a rough ride for Tavares when he plays road games against the Isles, though nothing like what he faced back on Feb. 28, when the bitterness boiled over.
Whatever, getting booed or being the target of Isles fans in general hasn’t, and won’t, be keeping Tavares up at night.
“I try not to worry about it a whole lot,” Tavares said. “It’s a passionate fan base and they care about their team.
“You try to use it as a learning experience and you learn from everything you go through. I have learned a lot from almost being through my 10th season now, just continue to try to find ways to get better and how to handle certain things, overcome adversity and certain challenges. It’s a good way to learn about yourself.”
LOOSE LEAFS
An energetic Gardiner remained on the ice well past the end of the morning skate, taking part in drills with the other scratches. Babcock has been saying the plan is to have Gardiner return before the playoffs remains in place, which means Gardiner might play on Thursday against Tampa Bay or in Montreal in the finale on Saturday, if not both games. The Leafs won’t practise again until Friday, which could preclude Gardiner from playing on Thursday. Said Babcock after the game: “Can we get Gardiner back? I don’t know for sure, but I am sure hopeful.” Gardiner has not played since Feb. 25, missing the past 17 games … Tavares on the Islanders clinching a playoff berth on Saturday: “They have had a great season. You have to tip your cap to the way they played.” … Defenceman Sean Durzi, sent to the Los Angeles Kings as part of the package that brought Muzzin to Toronto, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on Monday.
FIVE THINGS
Andersen sharp
The Maple Leafs needed a strong game from Frederik Andersen, perhaps more than anything, and they got it. “We need Freddie to be great because he’s a leader for us and when he feels good about himself we feel good about our team,” coach Mike Babcock said. “It’s important that he plays well.” On Monday, Andersen did that.
Hainsey a help
Ron Hainsey has his detractors, but not in the coach’s office or dressing room, where the view of the veteran defenceman counts the most. Hainsey caught Josh Bailey to negate a breakaway in the second period and led the Leafs with five blocked shots. He’s going to have to be a key player for the Leafs in the playoffs.
Rosen ready
It seemed like Calle Rosen was on the ice more, but when the night ended, he was at nine minutes 37 seconds, the least ice time among Leafs defencemen. In those minutes, he had a team-high 70.4% Corsi mark. “I liked Rosen,” Babcock said. “We didn’t give him a lot of minutes in the D-zone, but he can really skate and pass the puck.”
Penalty killers at work
Though the Leafs gave up a power-play goal to Jordan Eberle in the third period, they were strong on the penalty kill and staved off three other penalties. Andersen was key, but so were Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev, Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner.
Well-rounded effort
Good luck finding much fault in any Leaf effort on Monday. A lack of hustle didn’t exist among any of them, from Morgan Rielly’s team-high 24 minutes 18 seconds to Trevor Moore’s team-low six minutes nine seconds. Consistency was key in all three zones, and every Leaf registered at least one shot on goal.
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