Marner, Matthews finding groove as high-scoring linemates. kristen_shilton has more:
TSN Toronto reporter Kristen Shilton checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs. The team held a 12:05 p.m. practice Monday at Ford Performance Centre ahead of Tuesday’s New Year’s Eve game against the Minnesota Wild in Minneapolis.
“I think we play a lot alike,” Marner said. “We try and find open areas. I think we both know if it's a one-on-one kind of situation, we can leave each other and trust each other to make the play and kind of beat their guy. I don't think we're missing many chances around the net right now. And we also recognize if we can't [get a shot], we got Hyman down low and can give it to him and release pressure.
Under Keefe, Marner has also seen an uptick in minutes, and averages the third-most ice time among NHL forwards at 22:27 per game since Toronto's coaching change. Matthews, meanwhile, is clocking in at 20:18 per game, and the increased workload has been encouraging for both of them. “I think off the rush, those are the chances we're kind of giving up," Marner said. "With how active we're being right now in the o-zone, as forwards we have to realize that we've got to get back and play that defensive position sometimes. It's not always going to be perfect with our guys back and I think as forwards you've just got to realize and make sure you're playing the right position and playing the right way.
“The difficult part of it is when you've got such offensive players that are really feeling it and they feel like they can make a difference and they can score goals at any time, that they push a little extra,” he said. “So that would be the harder part. But in terms of the adjustments that we need to make, we think it's pretty simple; it's just the mindset and the mentality, but then actually going out and actually making it happen is different.
“For a while there, it seemed like he could stop everything,” Keefe said. “And he's come back to being human here I think recently. It's just highlighting the fact that we need to protect him better. When we protect him and we limit what we give up, he's a very, very difficult guy to beat, and it gives us a lot of confidence.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Motivated Marner blossoming under Keefe and alongside MatthewsMitch Marner has put his inconsistent start to season firmly behind him and he has blossomed again under new head coach Sheldon Keefe. Marner's point production and usage has increased and a big reason for that has has been the opportunity to play alongside Auston Matthews, which has paid huge dividends for the Leafs. Kristen Shilton has more.
Read more »
Dallas Stars score 4 in third to rally past Arizona Coyotes - TSN.caRoope Hintz scored the go-ahead goal late in Dallas' four-goal third period, and the Stars rallied past the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Sunday night.
Read more »
Kevin Clark scores two as Canada returns to Spengler Cup final - TSN.caCanada is off to the Spengler Cup final for the fifth year in a row. The national men's hockey team defeated TPS Turku of Finland 6-0 in semifinal action at the annual Christmas tournament on Monday.
Read more »
Donovan Mitchell scores 23 as surging Utah Jazz beat Detroit Pistons - TSN.caDonovan Mitchell scored 23 points and Jordan Clarkson added 20 to lead the Utah Jazz over the Detroit Pistons 104-81 on Monday night. Rudy Gobert added 13 points and 19 rebounds for the surging Jazz, and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17. Utah won for the eighth time in nine games.
Read more »
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares named NHL's third star of week - TSN.caTampa Bay defenceman Victor Hedman, St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington and Toronto centre John Tavares are the N-H-L's three stars of the week.
Read more »
Ice Chips: Toronto Maple Leafs recall Timothy Liljegren, Teemu Kivihalme - TSN.ca
Read more »