The Maple Leafs, lately anyway, have been a one-trick pony and have only been as good as their top line.
Thankfully, their top line — led by John Tavares and Mitch Marner — got a boost with the return of Zach Hyman. And the line was very good on Thursday.
Tavares scored twice, Marner scored once and Hyman was a factor on every Leaf goal as Toronto beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2.
The Leafs swept the season series against the Devils. They had won both previous meetings by lopsided scores of 6-1 and 7-2. This one was going down that path with Toronto off to a 3-0 lead in the first period.
But like so much else lately for the Leafs, nothing has come easy and sometimes — with giveaways and soft play — they make things harder on themselves.
Still, Toronto pulled off a win they absolutely needed after winning just once in their previous four outings and starting to feel the heat from the Boston Bruins chasing them for second in the Atlantic Division.
Said Leafs coach Mike Babcock: “I liked that in the third period we didn’t back up and play in our own zone. We played the game in the offensive zone and we still had the puck, we took care of it. We didn’t give up much. I thought the first period was like that too, it was just the second period it got away from us.”
Johnny Terrific: Tavares scored the 300th and 301st goals of his NHL career and became the first player from the 2009 NHL draft to reach the 300-goal milestone. Only two players have scored more goals since Tavares entered the league in 2009-10: Alex Ovechkin (418) and Steven Stamkos (348).
Said Tavares: “Well, it’s always that much more satisfying when it contributes in a big win, especially bouncing back after the other night. I think a credit to a lot of guys who I’ve played with over my career. Obviously, a big part of helping me be successful. Just trying to be consistent as long as I’ve been in the league and don’t want to stop there.”
For Jersey: Blake Coleman and Brian Boyle scored late in the second period, just 23 seconds apart, to turn what had been a letter-perfect road game for the Leafs into one in which the collars tightened considerably.
“We gave up too many odd-man rushes, and let them get to the net,” Marner said.
The Hyman effect: Hyman returned after missing eight games — coincidentally injured the last time the Leafs visited New Jersey. He was a force to be reckoned with, especially in the first period when the Leafs got off to a 3-0 lead. He fed Ron Hainsey for the game’s first goal, coming on a four-on-four situation. He forechecked, was strong along the boards, winning puck battles and getting the puck to his teammates for the two by Tavares. And on Marners empty netter, Hyman followed the shot through the New Jersey end, fighting off a defender while protecting the goal for Marner even though he could have easily touched it and got credit for the goal himself.
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