That includes four of the past five games, including the past two, which have resulted in Leafs shootout wins. They’re 4-1 in shootouts, 3-2 in overtime.
The challenge of winning in regulation will increase greatly on Saturday considering the Leafs’ opponent. After uncharacteristically losing three games in a row during which they were outscored 17-8, the Boston Bruins found themselves on Thursday with a 3-0 victory against the lowly San Jose Sharks.
The Bruins’ visit to Scotiabank Arena will conclude the Leafs’ three-game home stand.
Despite the retirements of centres Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the Bruins remain the trendsetters in the Atlantic Division, rolling into Toronto in first place with a 15-4-3 record. One of the Bruins’ wins came in a shootout against the Leafs in Boston on Nov. 2.
“It’s been really impressive, not going to lie,” Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said of the Bruins’ success. “This time last year, we were thinking the same thing and then the fact that they are doing it again this year is even more impressive (without Bergeron and Krejci).”
While we can laud the Leafs for their 7-3 record in games determined in overtime (3-2) or shootout (4-1), if they don’t play with greater urgency in regulation, chances are good that a team as solid as the Bruins will ensure the game doesn’t get close to going beyond 60 minutes.
Despite his team winning just five games in regulation (only the Montreal Canadiens, with four, have fewer than the Leafs), coach Sheldon Keefe sees the silver in the lining. With a 12-6-3 record, the Leafs have gone 6-1-1 in their past eight games. Only two of those six wins have been in regulation.
“While we are working through it, it’s good to continue to pile up the points because there are a lot of teams that are not doing that,” Keefe said. “It’s not all negative. We know we have to get better and we will get better.”
Though we won’t know until Saturday at the morning skate as the Leafs had a full day off on Friday, there aren’t any scenarios in which it would make sense to start Ilya Samsonov in goal over Joseph Woll.
Woll has taken command of the net in three consecutive starts and has provided a backbone.
“I think it’s pretty steady,” Woll said of his confidence in himself. “I try to approach each game the same way. I try to keep the same mindset and make sure I’m learning and moving forward. I’ve been fortunate to have some good outcomes here.”
BOXING OUT
While Rielly never has beaten a path to the penalty box, there has been an anomaly to a degree.
Rielly hasn’t taken a penalty yet this season — and for that matter, neither has Auston Matthews.
Rielly’s career-high for one season is 40 penalty minutes in 2021-22, but that was the only year in his first 10 in the NHL that he had more than 28.
It’s more impressive right now taking into account the time that Rielly is spending on the ice, logging a career-high 25 minutes eight seconds.
“I think it’s that,” Rielly said. “I think it’s feet too. I feel like I’m moving my feet well. When you’re out of position, you’re able to recover without taking a penalty or you can keep yourself in position a little bit better.
“I don’t want to be in a box. There’s a time and a place to take a good penalty or to be involved physically. But in terms of the hooking and the tripping, I think it comes down to feet and trying to keep yourself in a good position.”
With the injuries the Leafs have had on the blue line — there could be clarity on the status of John Klingberg on Saturday — it’s not pretty to ponder where the Leafs would be without Rielly.
“The fact we are playing him as much as we are, shows we believe in him and we need him,” Keefe said. “He has answered the bell. Whatever we have asked of him, he is ready to do it.”
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