‘Back to our identity’: Rejuvenated Tavares line keeps Maple Leafs rolling

NEW YORK — Life moves fast in the National Hockey League, and so does Bobby McMann.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs’ week began, they had lost five of their past six games. March was halfway done, and they were still searching for their first regulation victory of the month. Oh, and they couldn’t locate their identity if you spotted them a pack of AirTags and a troop of Navy SEALs.

Four nights later, they’ve banked three straight regulation wins over a trio of opponents either contending for the Cup or fighting for their playoff lives. Both goaltenders have stood tall in the pipes. Toronto’s special teams have sharpened, its defence has tightened up and its star forwards have taken turns breaking games open.

“Momentum is a nice thing to have in this league — and confidence,” no-BS defenceman Jake McCabe said Thursday, following a controlled 4-3 win over the desperate New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

“A couple weeks ago, we didn’t have that momentum; we didn’t have that confidence. We needed that little tough stretch to make us better and look ourselves in the mirror a little bit and ask for more from each and every one of us. And I think we’ve done that and responded well.”

In Monday and Wednesday’s wins over Calgary and Colorado, respectively, it was walk-the-talk captain Auston Matthews, a can’t-miss power play and a dialed-in Joseph Woll doing the heavy lifting.

As the refs tucked their whistles, Toronto’s second unit hemmed in the Rangers. The McMann–Tavares–Nylander trio outshot its competition 10-3, out-chanced them 12-4 and outscored them 3-0, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

“We have that belief that we’re going to be good no matter what,” McMann stressed. “And then sometimes, when you have those games where it doesn’t quite come to you, it’s nice to get those ones that reaffirm that we’re doing the right things.”

That goes for the coach as well.

Despite getting consecutive wins at home, Berube believed the Tavares line needed a speed injection. Hence, the promotion of the streaky (in both senses of the word) McMann, who rewarded his bench boss with a fierce forecheck, a slot-driving tip and some dogged puck battles.

In short, McMann provides all the elements Berube wants from a group he is trying to mould in the image of his beloved 2019 Blues.

“Bobby has obviously got great touch around the net. You know, we’re happy with his speed, where he can put pressure on the opponent and cause problems, cause turnovers. But I thought he was just real heavy around the puck and in front of the net,” Tavares said. “A lot of sustained pressure.”

Nylander agreed: “Yeah, we had a lot of speed. We were able to get a lot of pucks back on the forecheck. I mean, spent a lot of time in the O-zone tonight.”

Despite moments of pushback from the Rangers — currently enduring an identity crisis of their own — the Maple Leafs stormed out of the gates, earned three separate leads and never trailed.

They were faster, more organized and better connected than their foil. They won more races and more 50-50 battles. They blocked more shots. They generated second and third chances through effort on the cycle and retrieval game.

None of which we could say with a straight face for the two weeks leading up to this one.

“It’s simple things,” Berube said. “I think it’s puck battles. Competitiveness. Just on our toes playing, attacking. You know, back to our game. Back to our identity.”

Tavares — whose first-star, two-goal, three-point night gives him 1,100 on the career — doesn’t want to call the Leafs of last week frustrated. But as they drifted toward wild-card status instead of first-seed contention, a realization set in.

“We weren’t up to standard, and certain things were creeping in, and results started to reflect that a little bit,” Tavares said. “It was just a great job internally, along with the coaching staff, the locker room, just identifying that, talking about it, and most importantly, addressing it and getting back to work and understanding the way we need to play.”

Hard work. Bursts of goals from the handsomely paid offence drivers. Gutsy, stingy defence from McCabe and Chris Tanev. Mix in some speed from the power wingers and a few key saves from the goalie tandem? There, that’s the identity.

The Maple Leafs are swiftly finding what was once lost.

The trick is to hold tight.

Because as McCabe noted, momentum can be a fickle beast. Enjoy it while you’re in the harness.

“They’re excited,” Berube said. “When you win games, you feel good about it. There’s a lot of good things going on right now.”

The good times fly from Broadway to Broadway for a day off in Smashville Friday and a shot at a perfect 4-0 week Saturday at Bridgestone Arena.

“We get a chance to regroup tomorrow and finish it off. Make it an incredible week with four games and earn another two points,” Tavares said.

“Should be a great atmosphere in Nashville.”

• Jersey boy Anthony Stolarz won again at Madison Square Garden and was particularly clutch late with some beauty kick saves.

The new Leaf has gone a perfect 4-0 in his trips home to the New Jersey–New York area this season. Over to you, Joseph Woll.

“It’s good competition,” Berube said. “They really enjoy each other, and they’re good teammates. So, they cheer for each other. They really do. That’s important. We need both of them. I said that all year long, and nothing’s changed.”

• Yikes, the Rangers look messy.

Defensively, the home team fumbled their zone exits and gave up way too many clean looks to an opponent that should’ve been tired on a back-to-back with travel.

So much for a bounceback response to Tuesday’s 2-1 home loss to Calgary.

Fighting for the wild card, the Blueshirts risk going 0-for-4 on their homestand against exclusively Canadian teams when the Canucks visit MSG Saturday.

As the power play struggled Thursday, the boo birds flew on Broadway.

• Toronto’s fourth line got caved in something awful during Wednesday’s win over Colorado, so David Kämpf drew back into his 4C role after three straight healthy scratches, bumping Calle Järnkrok to the press box.

Under Berube, Kämpf’s usage has hit a career-low 12:25. For the first time in Kämpf’s eight-year career, he has more giveaways (29) than takeaways (17). His 10 points put him in line for his least productive season, too.

While recognizing Kämpf’s underwhelming offence, Berube says he’s happy with the centre’s checking and penalty killing.

• Matthew Knies — who sniped his 25th Thursday — has signed a new deal… to become a brand ambassador for Adidas Canada.

The power forward describes it as an honour to link with the company, whose new campaign is built around spinning pressure into a positive, making athletes believe You Got This.

“I’m excited to be giving back to the sport,” says Knies, who filmed an ad with his brother Phil, “and hope I can be a positive influence for the next generation of athletes.” 

• That mysterious silver briefcase Simon Benoit totes into the rink before puck drop holds his coffee machine.

“I’m a big coffee fan,” Benoit explains. “And it’s hard sometimes to bring your own coffee machine. So that one has no electricity. It’s just a good old lever machine. So, I make a good old flat white with it.”