Category: NHL

SHELDON KEEFE

Q. Josh Clipperton, The Canadian Press: What have you liked about your team and how have they grown in these one goal games so far this season?

Sheldon Keefe: I like the way that we’ve found ways to come out on the positive side of it when it counts the most. Whether it’s how many games now we’ve had a really big penalty kill very late in the game with the game on the line, we find our way through those. We gave up the lead and then we bounce right back and get it and then make sure we finish the job. That’s been a theme. I like that. I think the thing I like most of all, for the most part, we’ve defended really well as a team, not perfect, but we’ve defended — I guess well maybe is not the right term, we’ve defended hard.

The guys are working in and have really significantly cut down on the high danger chances and odd-man rushes. The players have been really committed to that. It’s been far from perfect. We’ve got a lot of areas to grow. We’re not even close to being the team that I think we can be and the team that we would need to be, but a lot of positive things that have gotten us to be 7-2. I think the greatest news of all is that none of the games have been perfect and there’s lots of room for growth still.

Q. Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun: Sheldon, specifically tonight, what do you think of the team’s performance, especially when it got a little bizarre there towards the end with all the penalties?

Sheldon Keefe: I really liked our first period, liked a lot of things about it, liked how we defended. Again, offensively, we didn’t have a great deal, but we defended real well, they broke loose a couple times and it was really just as a result of some of our mistakes with the puck. When we make mistakes with the puck, like they do as a team, the Oilers, they transition very well and that’s when their best players come alive. When it was time to defend, we didn’t give them anything in the first period at all.

The same thing in the second period. When we made it hard on ourselves and we gave them the puck back they got some life, but, for the most part — I didn’t like the third goal, the Kassian goal. I didn’t like that goal defensively, but aside from that our team’s defended really well. Ultimately that’s why we’re sitting where we are. There’s a lot of things within our process of how we play with the puck that can improve and obviously we have to stay out of the penalty box. The penalties have been crazy. It’s just not good enough.

Q. Kevin McGran, Toronto Star: Lots will be made, of course, of the guys that scored tonight, but Morgan Riley had a terrific game. He looks really like he did two years ago. You didn’t see that firsthand. What have you thought of the way Morgan is as a healthy defenceman, as opposed to the guy that was a bit sidelined last year?

Sheldon Keefe: I think he’s skating really well. I think these three Oiler games that we’ve played, in particular, he’s played for the most part against McDavid, he and Brodie, and that’s a matchup that a year ago he wouldn’t have had. Now we’ve given him that and he’s taken that on and I think he’s done a really good job with it. He’s still played his game offensively, but he’s defended fast and hard and competitive. He’s been really good.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: Sheldon, other than the fact that it’s scoring so often, what have you liked the most about how the power play is operating to start the year?

Sheldon Keefe: I just like that the guys have adjusted well whether it’s Simmonds going in on the net front, whether it’s the fact that, for the most part, we’ve used two competitive units and spread it out, and the guys have adjusted well with that, whether when Jumbo was there, it was going well, and now Kerfoot’s come in and he’s done well.

Times when we’ve put the two units together and put Tavares, Nylander, Matthews and Marner together, those guys have done well as a group. Whatever we’ve done, the players have responded well, and in a season with no exhibition and very limited practice time that’s a really, really good, positive thing. Credit to the players for executing and for Manny for the plan that he’s put together for those guys.

Sheldon Keefe: Yeah, I think the rest is important. We’ve got to try to manage that when we can when it comes to Spezz. I thought he gave us some good things here today, whether it was power play, obviously got us a goal, that line had some good shifts at different times. I think he needs to not take that penalty, but whenever we called on him today, power play, faceoffs, 5-on-5, he did a good job. That’s what you’re looking for in terms of the depth on your team.

FREDERIK ANDERSEN 

Q. Joshua Clipperton, Canadian Press: What have you liked about your team in one goal games this year? 

Frederik Andersen: It’s just finding a way. I think it’s big, that’s how you get points by not letting them tie the game up late and, I think, sticking with the process even though it’s a game that goes back and forth. Obviously, we don’t want to put ourselves in that situation every time we have a lead, but from what I’ve seen so far I like the way we keep playing. Our resiliency has been good.

Q. Joshua Clipperton, Canadian Press: It was sort of a weird game with all the penalties, momentum shifts, what did you see from where you sat?

Frederik Andersen: Yeah exactly, a lot of calls, a lot of opportunities for both teams to score on special teams. I think that was huge for us again. Just answering when they tied it up and we go right down and score on our power play. That was big and, again, shows you the resiliency and not letting those momentum swings bother us too much.

AUSTON MATTHEWS

Q. Josh Clipperton, Canadian Press: You guys only had 10 one-goal victories last year. You’re already at your fifth and Mitch also scored an empty-netter with less than a second left, which would have been a sixth. What have you seen differently with the group in terms of how you’ve been able to battle in these tight games?

Auston Matthews: I think we just, as a five man unit as well as Fred, try to keep it tight back there and limit their chances, limit them to the outside, and just do the best job that we can.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: A bit of a weird game with all of the special teams time tonight. What’s your sense of how the team handled it and got it done eventually when the powerplay chances did come your way?

Auston Matthews: We got the win which is all that matters. Obviously, a lot of disruptive flow, I think. We’re taking way too many penalties right now but special teams came up big. A couple big penalty kills. A couple of big power play goals for us and sometimes that’s the way the game goes, special teams have got to come through. Obviously, we squeak out with this one but some guys came up with big plays on both ends for us tonight and Freddie was a brick wall for us as well.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: What’s standing out to you about the power play to start the season? What’s making it so effective?

Auston Matthews: I think we’ve been flowing pretty nice with these two units. We’re moving it well. I just think the biggest thing is that when we need a goal it seems like we’re coming through. It’s obviously a positive for us and special teams is a big part of the game so we just want to continue that momentum.

Q. Kevin McGran, Toronto Star: What have you liked about the way Morgan has been playing this year? 

Auston Matthews: I love it. He’s a huge part of this team. When he’s healthy like he is right now, he’s an elite defenceman. Plays a huge role for us. It’s always fun getting out there with him when he’s moving the way he is and the way he can, getting involved on both ends of the ice, it just makes our jobs easier in all three zones. He’s been doing an awesome job for us. Like I said, he’s a huge part of this team so obviously we’re very lucky to have him.

JASON SPEZZA 

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: How did you how did you feel coming into this game? You feel like the legs were fresher? How did you feel?

Jason Spezza: Sheldon told me that it’s been a lot of hockey in a short period of time, thought I could benefit from a day of rest and with a day off yesterday, it gave me some time to recover. Obviously, he was right. I felt good tonight and a little bit extra jump. It’s good when things like that work out.

Q. Kevin McGran, Toronto Star: Jason, have you seen this team mature in your time with them? You guys look a little bit more confident, look a little bit more structured, it’s mostly the same players. What’s the difference in your mind?

Jason Spezza: I think there’s definitely a belief that’s growing within our group. We feel like we can still do better when we have leads, we’ve had lots of leads and given a few up, but been resilient and find a way to be gritty and just get wins at the end. Winning breeds confidence and we’re starting to believe that we can win every night. That’s a good feeling for a team, but we still feel like there’s little ways we can go to locking games down better, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Q. Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun: Jason in the bigger picture, Sheldon’s wanted to bring the fourth line guys in and out to utilize the taxi squad. That seems to have been working, certainly, in this little streak you’re on. Could you comment on that?

Jason Spezza: As a player, you just get yourself ready to play. When you’re told to play, you try to play and do your role. Obviously, you like to play every night, but you have to respect the coach’s decisions. When you’re not playing, you’ve got to take the rest and make sure you’re ready to go. For us on the fourth line, we want to be able to give good shifts, we want to be able to help out when we can, and really try to drive possession and make sure that we’re setting the other lines up for good shifts, too. It’s an important role, and you have to stay in the game. I thought tonight we did a good job and just keep moving forward.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (7-2-0 – 14 Points) vs.

EDMONTON OILERS (3-6-0 – 6 Points)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021

GAME SUMMARY         |           EVENT SUMMARY        |           FACEOFF SUMMARY

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Jason Spezza put the Maple Leafs on the board at 9:29 of the first period before collecting the secondary assist on William Nylander’s first period goal. Spezza has three points (1-2-3) over his last three games played. Tonight’s game is his first multi-point performance of 2020-21 after having three in 2019-20. He has three points (1-2-3) in three games against Edmonton this season. In 32 games against the Oilers, Spezza has registered 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists)
• William Nylander scored Toronto’s second goal of the night at 18:22 of the first period. Nylander has three points (1-2-3) in three games against the Oilers this season. The Maple Leafs are 4-1-0 when Nylander registers a point this season. He has 11 points (3-8-11) in 11 career games against Edmonton.
• Wayne Simmonds scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the game on the power play at 7:56 of the third period. Simmonds has goals (3) in three consecutive games. He is one of three Maple Leafs (Matthews, Tavares) with multiple power play goals this season.
• Auston Matthews scored the fourth Toronto goal of the night on the power play at 13:36 of the third period. Matthews has goals (3) in three consecutive games. He has recorded a point in seven of his eight games played this season. In two games against Edmonton this season, he has recorded a pair of goals.
• Travis Boyd recorded the lone assist on Spezza’s first period goal. Boyd has assists (1-1-2) in two consecutive games. He has three assists in two career games against Edmonton.
• John Tavares registered the primary assist on Nylander’s first period goal. Tavares has two points (1-1-2) in three games against Edmonton this season. He has three points (1-2-3) in five games on the road this season. He has 20 points (7-13-20) in 19 career games against Edmonton.
• Mitch Marner registered the primary assist on Simmonds’ third period goal. Marner has assists (5) and points (2-5-7) in four consecutive games. Marner has three points (1-2-3) in three games against the Oilers this season. In four games on the road, he has recorded eight points (2-6-8). He ranks second among NHLers in points this season (5-8-13).
• Morgan Rielly picked up the secondary assist on Simmonds’ third period goal. Rielly has assists (6) in three consecutive games. The Maple Leafs are 4-0-0 when Rielly records a point this season.
• TJ Brodie registered the primary assist on Matthews’ third period goal. Brodie has three assists over his last five games played. He has three assists in three games against the Oilers this season.
• Alex Kerfoot collected the secondary assist on Matthews’ third period goal. Kerfoot has two assists in three games against Edmonton this season. His assist tonight is his first power play point of the season.
• Frederik Andersen stopped 26 shots to earn his fifth win of the season.

SHOTS ON GOAL (5-on-5 in brackets)

SHOT ATTEMPTS (5-on-5 in brackets)

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS

RECORD WHEN…

OF NOTE…

• The Maple Leafs went 4-for-6 on the penalty kill and 1-for-3 on the power play tonight.
• Toronto has scored at least one power play goal in eight of the club’s nine games this season.
• Toronto’s line of Ilya Mikheyev, William Nylander and John Tavares started 25% of their 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which was the lowest mark among Toronto skaters.
• Travis Dermott was on the ice for a team-high 17 shot attempts at 5-on-5 tonight. Dermott finished the game with a team-high 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 65.4.0% (17 for, 21 against).
• John Tavares was 3-for-4 (75%) in the faceoff circle when matched up with Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl and 3-for-5 (60%) in the faceoff circle when matched up with Edmonton centre Connor McDavid.

UPCOMING GAMES:

• Saturday, January 30, 7:00 p.m. at Edmonton Oilers (Sportsnet, FAN 590)
• Thursday, February 4, 7:00 p.m. vs. Vancouver Canucks (TSN4, FAN 590)
• Saturday, February 6, 7:00 p.m. vs. Vancouver Canucks (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
• Monday, February 8, 7:00 p.m. vs. Vancouver Canucks (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050)
• Wednesday, February 10, 7:30 p.m. at Montreal Canadiens (Sportsnet, FAN 590)

Stats reflect official NHL stats at the time of distribution. Please consult official NHL game sheets (links above) to confirm no statistical changes were made.

SHELDON KEEFE

Q. Chris Johnston, Sportsnet: What did you like most about what you saw from that Kerfoot line tonight?

Sheldon Keefe: I thought they skated well. It took them a little while to get going in the game I thought, like it did our whole team, but they were on the puck hard. What I liked most is that they scored us a 5-on-5 goal. Those have been hard to come by and it’s good to get one.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: How did you feel the team handled the offence/defence balance that we were talking about in the days leading up to this one?

Sheldon Keefe: I thought it took us a little while to really settle into that proper balance. I thought we were pushing offensively early in the game. We did generate some good looks in that first period where we gave up too much. I thought we gave up more in the first period than we gave up in the entire game the other day.  Over time, through the game, I thought we settled down in that area. That was a really good sign. I think what I liked most about the game is just when we go into it without two very important players for us, a game where we get down on a shorthanded goal the way that we did, responded right away. That was a positive sign for us. We get ahead, give up the lead early in the third, get a power play and just make good on it and then finish the job. Really good signs, just how despite having, in Engvall and Brooks’ case, two guys that haven’t played at all, and Barabanov, a guy who hasn’t played much, coming into our lineup. I thought that we were steady all the way through and I thought Fred Andersen was outstanding. That gave our group confidence to just keep playing. 

Q. Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun: McDavid ties the game there, can it be a lesson going forward to see what you guys did from that point on and take the lead back and clamp down?

Sheldon Keefe: Like I said, I just like that we didn’t get rattled by that. I have to go back and watch the whole sequence of how it all happened, but I thought we actually did a pretty good job of clogging the neutral zone there, we forced them to dump it, and we didn’t get back onto the puck and breakout. They get it to the top, they shoot it and tip it. We can do a better job on the stick on the tip, but it’s one of those sequences that it happens. I just like how we shrugged it off and kept playing. We earned ourselves a power play and then guys made good on it. Whether it’s goaltending, penalty kill, power play, our best players here today – Mitch, his efforts, JT to get a tip on the winning goal, good shifts and efforts that we got from the guys that came in the lineup, I thought Wayne Simmonds had his best game. There was a lot of really good things to take out the game that will help us build from here.  

Q. Josh Clipperton, The Canadian Press: A lot of people were expecting fireworks in this two-game set, it didn’t really happen. Were we wrong to expect that? What did you see? Why was it so tight?

Sheldon Keefe: I think if you go back and watch the first seven minutes of the first period I don’t think it was very tight and Fred was great. He kept us in it early there, I thought. That or we were just able to get back at the last second and break things up. Things were pretty loose early on. I thought as the game settled in structure kind of took over again. You’ve got two teams that are trying to improve defensively and not be so loose and free in terms of offensive chances, defensive chances. In our case tonight especially, you take two thirds of your top line out, and someone like Auston and what he means to our team, we’ve got to play a little bit differently and the group’s got to recognize the important of every shift and how important it is to stay with the structure and stay with the plan.  I thought we did that really well today. I thought our best guys led us. Big time play from Will to make that pass to Vesey who finished it. That’s another big 5-on-5 goal from Jimmy Vesey for us. That’s a great sign. Just a real good team win, which we knew going in it was going have to be. 

Q. Eric Francis, Sportsnet: Can you talk a little bit about what TJ Brodie has brought to your team that maybe you guys were hoping he would fill a void with?

Sheldon Keefe: He’s just been a real steady presence for us. Whether it be defensively or offensively with how he moves the puck. Just been a really steady, consistent, low maintenance guy who’s come in. Like every player there’s an adjustment period, but he looks really comfortable. When I talk about our team not getting rattled or fazed by anything that might have occurred in any of our games, he epitomizes that. He just goes out and plays. If he makes a mistake or the team makes a mistake, it doesn’t rattle him. He just goes out and plays his next shift. That’s really valuable on defence, in particular. 

FREDERIK ANDERSEN

Q. Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun: You passed Curtis Joseph in wins tonight in franchise history. Do wins like this mean that much more to you when they come second half of a back-to-back in a game that sets the tone for you guys heading on the road?

Frederik Andersen: I’ll start by saying it’s obviously cool to be in the same sentence as a guy like Cujo. He’s a phenomenal person, obviously enjoyed seeing him around here under normal circumstances. Playing a lot of games and being part of a good team you’re going to end up with wins and I’m really happy about the way we responded. The second part of the question, obviously we wanted to respond on the last game and take two points back. Obviously, every single game is a division game so we knew we had to respond to not dig ourselves a hole. I like the way we came out. 

Q. Dave McCarthy, NHL.com: If I’m not mistaken, Cujo was a guy that you really idolized growing up. I believe you wore his pads back at the Centennial Classic. Is he a guy that you really followed growing up?

Frederik Andersen: It was probably a little bit hard to say that because in Denmark we didn’t get much NHL, but obviously with the pads being his brand and I would see them, they would be the ones being sold in the stores in Denmark and I know my Dad played with the same colours. He’s one of the greats in Toronto and it’s special, like that game back in my first year, to be able to give him a little respect. It’s cool. 

 TJ BRODIE

Q. Eric Francis, Sportsnet: How has your role changed in Toronto as opposed to the role you played here in Calgary?

TJ Brodie: I think it’s pretty similar. I’m willing to play wherever they want me to play and wherever helps the team the most. That’s the way I’ve looked at it throughout my career and the way I’ll continue to look at it. 

Q. Eric Francis, Sportsnet: Have you touched base with many of the guys in the room? I know you’re tight with a ton of them.

TJ Brodie: Yeah we’ve talked here and there. Obviously, since the season’s started I haven’t really talked to them, it’s been a bit chaotic with the schedule, but it will be good to face off against them.

Q. Eric Francis, Sportsnet: How much have you thought about your return to Calgary either during the summer or of late?

TJ Brodie: Yeah I didn’t really think about it at all. My main focus has been here, getting to know the guys, getting to know the systems and create that chemistry here. It’s something I didn’t really worry about. I figured I’d think about it when the time comes.  

ADAM BROOKS

Q. Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun: Adam, you were drafted five years ago, a long road to this moment. To score your first goal, how does it feel?

Adam Brooks: Yeah, it definitely feels good. I think there was a lot of pressure taken off me. That was the first game I’ve played in 330 days or something like that. It’s been a long time. It was nice to get that bounce and nicer to come from a guy like Jason Spezza. It was a lot of fun . A great moment that I’ll remember forever obviously and just happy that I got the opportunity to be out there with those guys.

Q. Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun: Where’s the puck going?

Adam Brooks: I’m sure my parents will steal it and put it in their basement but I’m not even really sure where it is right now.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: How would you describe what it was like waiting? You mentioned the time off, what was it like trying to stay focused and all of that?

Adam Brooks: Yeah, it’s definitely hard. A lot of guys obviously were in that situation where they didn’t play for a long time. Whenever you get back into a situation like that where you get to play, the first period or the first little is going to be hard I think. No matter how hard you train and no matter what you’re doing, whenever you get into game mode it’s always a little bit harder and a little bit of a step up so you know it was nice to get out there and get my feet wet. Obviously I don’t know what’s going to happen going forward but I was happy to get the opportunity. Like I said, fortunate to get a bounce like that.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: What will you remember most about that goal, that sequence?

Adam Brooks: I think for me it’s pretty cool to play with a guy like Spezza. My first game ever he was on my wing as well. I got him to sign a stick for me. So to say that he assisted on my first goal, a guy that’s played for that long and of that caliber, it’s a pretty cool moment for me. Just the whole thing was pretty exciting.

JOHN TAVARES 

Q. Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun: You were talking this morning about guys having to elevate their games and that sort of thing. Did that happen tonight?

John Tavares: I think certainly to get a good hard fought win like that you need the whole group and some guys got new different opportunities, more opportunities. When you come out on the right side of it, I thought as the game went on we got better. We were a little loose with some opportunities they created in the first period, but other than that I thought, we found our game, found our rhythm and it was hard fought. They competed hard and certainly guys stepped up and got a big bounce back.

Q. Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun: Your thoughts on heading out west for a week now and two with the Flames and two with the Oilers and what you expect?

John Tavares: Yeah, I guess we’re Alberta bound – just try to build some momentum off a decent week here. Each game is so important, we know everything is inner divisional so it doesn’t stop. You can’t take your foot off the gas and we’ve got to keep improving. We’ve got a real challenge going into Sunday with the travel, the turnaround and the amount of hockey we’ve already played. Mentally and physically, we’ve got to respond, get ourselves ready to go and know that we’ve got a tough one with our first time seeing the Flames. It should be a fun trip. I don’t think we’ve got any back-to-backs so try to take advantage of those days in-between and make the most of this trip. 

JIMMY VESEY 

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: Can you take us through the goal?

Jimmy Vesey: Yeah, I thought it was a good forecheck by our line. Kerf made a nice anticipation play and picked it off and found Willy who made a great play to me. You know, I think a lot of people thought that he would have shot that puck but froze the goalie and slid it over and I just tried to bury it.

Q. Mark Masters, TSN: What was it like getting reunited with Alex [Kerfoot]? We know you guys go way back.

Jimmy Vesey: I thought it was great. You know we’ve had some sporadic shifts from the games before this. It was great to play with him tonight. I think we still have a little bit of that chemistry. He’s a pass first guy and I thought he was looking for me and Willy tonight so it was nice to play with him and obviously, nice to get a goal.

Q. Josh Clipperton, Canadian Press: What you thought of the team’s performance overall, missing Auston, missing Joe and how you guys grinded one out after the disappointment Wednesday.

Jimmy Vesey: I thought it was a great effort by the group. Like you said, no Auston, no Jumbo, guys came and stepped up. You know obviously Brooksy, first NHL goal and I thought Barabanov came in and looked a lot more comfortable and played a really good game for us. I thought it was a gutsy effort. We didn’t like our game the other night. It’s good we didn’t have to wait to play those guys again and came back and got it done tonight.