Dave Poulin: Sheldon Keefe, Maple Leafs need to complete their chemistry experiments before exam time
and Tavares. William Nylander slides in behind Marner with whichever centre remains. But how best to employ super pest Michael Bunting? And can Calle Järnkrok’s increased offensive production and two-way savvy find a place alongside Matthews?
The success of this team in the post-season will surely be defined by the top end of the lineup, but one can’t underestimate the role the bottom six will play. Knowing the first-round opponent os Tampa Bay only amplifies the point, as the Lightning’s lower half has shone through the past three post-seasons, scoring timely goals that have shifted series.
Defence poses a bigger cohesion issue than the forward group, a point that has been magnified with the coach’s choice to employ a lineup of 11 forwards and seven blueliners on several occasions. Playing with seven defencemen allows for versatility but it removes the comfort of going out with the same partner on every shift. A rhythm is often hard to find, as are the nuances that good pairings develop.
Goaltending also has provided options, with both Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov providing solid play. This is the one position where the hot hand will be played, and there’s a good chance both will have to factor in for a positive outcome. There will be an interesting checkpoint in the Leafs’ second-last game of the regular season, when they visit Tampa. Professor Keefe should have his final chemistry grades by then, but will he choose to show the results of his experiments or save them for the playoffs? Only a series win will determine if he was able to turn his many options into a positive.
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