Sheldon Keefe is leaning on John Tavares to take on the tough matchups for Toronto down the stretch.
“In my experience, when John’s been given a responsibility, particularly with matchups, he takes it very seriously,” the Leafs coach said. “He’s very committed to it. He respects the opposition a lot. When I say that, it’s meaning that his decision making is really sound and that he won’t push or overdo offence. He’ll respect their game and make sure he’s in good spots defensively. He tends to control the game a little bit better for us that way.”
Tavares and his line got the better of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl when Edmonton was in town late last month. Since then, Keefe has used the last-change advantage at home to match his 33-year-old captain against top lines.
“Just trying to make sure that you’re making things difficult,” Tavares said of his mindset. “You’re being on the right side of the puck, and understanding the challenge of the opponents and what they do well and how that can fuel your game the other way. So not trying to sell all out offensively.”
What does linemate Bobby McMann notice?
“Just details,” McMann noted. “He’s always adamant about it. He always wants to be the best at it, and I think that’s a reason why he’s played so long.”
Tavares has scored just once in eight games, but vows he won’t be cheating for offence.
“Obviously when the plays are there, you want to make them,” he said, “but knowing that, over the course of a long game, you just want to continue to be on the right side of things and defending hard, winning battles, making sure they’re coming through you, and you can earn good opportunities that way.”
The return of Selke Trophy nominee Mitch Marner, who is now slotting in beside Tavares and McMann, makes the line even better suited for the shutdown role.
The tactical change by Keefe has allowed top-line centre Auston Matthews to exploit easier matchups.
“We just tried Auston in a different look and feel,” Keefe said. “A lot of times, he has to take that responsibility on and it’s been a little bit different that way.”
Matthews has nine goals in his last nine games and is meshing well with offensive-minded linemates Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi.
“Even when we maybe have off shifts or off periods, just the ability to bounce back,” said Matthews when asked what’s working well. “All three of us like to communicate, talk on the bench, talk on the ice, and just go out there and compete. We just kinda compete every shift, every game, and obviously all three of us bring different things, different attributes and what we excel at. So we just try to use each other.”
After a slow start in Montreal on Saturday, Domi and Matthews both scored early in the second period.
“It looks like they’re having fun,” McMann observed. “It looks like they’re just working hard. It’s three guys that just compete for pucks, play hard, and then all three of them have really good vision, and then obviously Auston’s been putting it in quite a bit.”
Matthews is up to 64 goals. He has six games left to chase 70 goals.
“It’s crazy,” said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. “Looking at different years, big years from different guys, 70 just seems like a crazy number, but he could do it. It’s amazing. It speaks a lot to the consistency that he’s had. But, yeah, that’s a crazy number.”
Matthews needs just two goals to pass Alex Ovechkin, who scored 65 times in the 2007-08 season, and establish a new benchmark for active players.
Crosby’s career-high of 51 goals was set in the 2009-10 season.
The challenge for the Tavares line will be a tall one on Monday as Crosby is one of the hottest players in the league. What’s the key against No. 87?
“I don’t know if the formula is always the same,” said Tavares. “He’s always continuing to evolve and, I don’t want to say reinvent himself, but just continuing to find ways to get better.”
Some things never change, though.
“Obviously, we know how well he can protect the puck and make plays in traffic,” Tavares said. “So, keep him on the outside and have to use a lot of energy just earning the puck back and doing things like that.”
With 16 points in his last eight games, Crosby is tied for the NHL scoring lead since March 24.
“Just trying to compete,” Crosby said of his heater. “As a line, we’re keeping it simple. We’re not forcing things that aren’t there. We’re playing hard. I think everyone’s playing the same kind of game regardless of line or production. Regardless of who goes out there, everyone’s playing the same way and it’s been a reason for our success.”
McMann admits it was “surreal” facing Crosby for the first time earlier this season.
“It’s always a special night when you get to play against that guy because he’s still clipping at an incredible pace,” said McMann. “Still finds a way to get it done. It’s fun to watch him, but it’ll be fun to beat him for sure.”
The Penguins were nine points out of a playoff spot as recently as March 27. Crosby’s hot streak has fuelled the Penguins on a 6-0-2 run and brought them within one point of the second wildcard in the Eastern Conference.
“If you looked where we were two weeks ago, we probably didn’t think we’d in this position to be able to be playing meaningful games at this point,” Crosby said. “So, you know, we would’ve took it at that point. To be in meaningful games right now is big. Yeah, it’s fun.”
On Saturday, Crosby reached the 40-goal mark for the third time in his career. He joined Ovechkin (twice), Brendan Shanahan, Teemu Selanne, Gordie Howe, Phil Esposito and Johnny Bucyk as the only players 36 or older in NHL history to notch a 40-goal season.
“I don’t think it’s surprising in a lot of ways,” said Tavares. “You’re talking about the most accomplished player of this generation … [he’s] showing I think since day one of his career, the internal drive he has and how much he can will and influence a game and his teammates and his team.”
“I run out of phrases to explain Sid’s overall game, his contribution to helping the Penguins win,” said coach Mike Sullivan. “He cares so much about winning. He cares a lot about the Penguins and the success that we have. He plays an inspired game. He’s the heartbeat of this team, I’ve said this on so many different occasions, and he’s certainly doing everything in his power to help us get to the playoffs.”