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Tavares’ point-a-game pace, overall example bringing respect from Leafs teammates

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Morgan Rielly’s post-game summation of Maple Leafs captain John Tavares on Saturday evening was concise.

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“He seems to be nearly as good as I’ve ever seen him look,” the Leafs defenceman mentioned after Toronto beat the Boston Bruins 5-2 at Scotiabank Area.

“He’s as robust as he’s, targeted, working as laborious as I’ve ever seen.

“He’s motivated. He’s a man we glance to. He actually units a tone.”

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Along with his second three-point sport of the season — Tavares scored two objectives and assisted on Mitch Marner’s empty-netter within the last minute — Tavares has 12 factors in 12 video games and has been a catalyst because the Leafs have turned their fortunes round with a five-game successful streak.

Whereas no participant is absolutely glad together with his sport, take into account Tavares utterly again, after which some, from the horrific accidents he suffered within the playoffs towards the Montreal Canadiens final spring. The concussion and knee damage that befell him in Recreation 1 vs. Montreal are lengthy up to now.

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“I had an incredible low season, recovered nicely and felt actually good about coaching camp and constructed some confidence there,” Tavares mentioned. “I’ve simply continued to imagine in myself and my sport.

“Understanding that I’m in a great place with my position and the place my sport is and who I’m personally as a participant (is essential), and what I’ve to do to assist this staff.

“I don’t ever take it as a right, and going by way of one thing like that (towards Montreal and the restoration) solely heightens it extra. You go on the market and luxuriate in it and profit from it.”

GAME ON

Tavares was 13-7 within the faceoff circle … With 11 factors in his previous 5 video games, let’s imagine Marner is working himself again into city, couldn’t we? The inconsistency in his curiosity throughout the first handful of video games is gone. The Marner we’ve come to know has returned … Auston Matthews scored two power-play objectives in a single sport for the fourth time in his NHL profession and first since Feb. 20 at Montreal, the one sport within the shortened 2020-21 season he did it … Tavares had a terrific likelihood to present the Leafs a lead halfway by way of the second interval, however was stopped by Linus Ullmark on a breakaway. That save got here between the 2 Tavares objectives — one within the first interval after a overview when the Bruins web got here off and one within the third, simply after the Leafs captain completed serving a hooking minor. Throughout that penalty, Jack Campbell made a pointy kick save on a Patrice Bergeron drive … Campbell denied David Pastrnak on a one-timer within the second interval, making hockey the one occasion the place one may say Soup was higher than Pasta. The Bruins ahead acquired one to fall within the third, nevertheless, blasting a Brad Marchand cross into the online. That was the sixth objective of the sport and the primary of the evening that was not scored by a first-overall NHL draft decide … It was Tavares’ first two-goal sport since April 20 at Vancouver. He didn’t have two objectives in another sport final season … Wayne Simmonds is overdue. His solely objective got here within the Leafs’ third sport, however he has been getting his possibilities. On Saturday, Ullmark denied Simmonds on the doorstep after a cross from Jason Spezza … When Jake Muzzin is on his sport, he’s crushing folks, and he acquired his physique on quite a lot of Bruins, giving Karson Kuhlman a tough journey a few instances. This may be seen solely as a very good factor for the Leafs and Muzzin, whose struggles within the early going have been out of the extraordinary for the savvy veteran.

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LOOSE LEAFS

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned the membership ought to have a greater thought on Sunday of the standing of goaltender Petr Mrazek, who tweaked his groin this previous week. It’s associated to the damage, Keefe mentioned, that saved Mrazek out for 2 weeks in October. In flip, the Leafs recalled goalie Joseph Woll from the Toronto Marlies, and Woll backed up Campbell towards Boston … Defenceman Travis Dermott heard his identify talked about as a doable alternative for the Seattle Kraken within the enlargement draft, and it by no means occurred because the Kraken took Jared McCann off Toronto’s listing of accessible gamers. Now, Dermott is listening to the rumours that he could possibly be a part of a commerce. “I’ll hold doing what I do till one thing occurs, if it’s going to occur,” Dermott mentioned. “One of the best I can do for myself is are available in right here and present what I’ve each day. I’m within the blue and white now and that’s the place my coronary heart is.” … The one participant who will rating a prettier objective than Connor McDavid is McDavid. It’s early within the season, so calling the loopy play (we’re positive you’ve seen it, and greater than as soon as) by the Edmonton Oilers celebrity towards the New York Rangers on Friday the objective of the 12 months is untimely. McDavid has loads of time to attain a greater one, and we received’t be shocked if he does. “Stunning objective,” Dermott mentioned. “Jogs my memory of all of the instances I performed with him (with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League) and he perhaps burned me like that in follow. It’s a particular participant making a particular play.”

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