After catching a break, the Maple Leafs caught their breath Wednesday.
They’re relieved to escape a five-game losing streak — by the eighth of an inch of John Tavares’ skate blade on an overtime pass — yet still with 10.5% playoff odds, as per moneypuck.com.
An optional practice/skills development day was not shy of questions, ahead of Thursday’s home game against Columbus, preceding a six-game trip:
Q: What’s the latest on all the injuries?
After the Leafs plugged in Jacob Quillan and Sammy Blais up front, Dakota Mermis on defence and Troy Stecher debuted, the only likely returnee from the sick list on Thursday will be centre Scott Laughton (upper body).
Head coach Craig Berube considers Chris Tanev (upper body) “a ways’ away” and had no update on fellow blueliner Brandon Carlo (lower body).
Auston Matthews (lower) is skating, but progressing slowly with no sign Wednesday of linemate Matthew Knies, (a late scratch Tuesday with a lower-body injury) and centre Nic Roy (upper).
Goalie Anthony Stolarz is on IR (upper), leaving the cage to Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby for now.
Toronto dodged another injury after Blais was coughing up blood during Tuesday’s game.
“It was just an unfortunate hit in the chest,” said Blais, who participated in Wednesday’s workout. “It felt like mucus down there, then I saw it was red. But they ran some tests and I’m fine.”
Q: Just how spooked are the Leafs they could miss the playoffs?
As they passed the NHL quarter pole Tuesday, their record of 9-9-2 is two points out of the Atlantic Division cellar, five from first place and in the mushy middle of seven Eastern Conference teams currently a couple of points out of a wild-card spot.
Bobby McMann was among those who said it’s not the time to fret about the out-of-town scoreboard until the Leafs get their act together defensively. Tavares was concerned, but reminded there’s “lots of runway, a lot of hockey” to be played.
Winger Dakota Joshua, who admits he has more to give than five points in 20 games with a minus-6, sees the playoff glass half full. That’s largely because no team is dominating, at least in the East.
“That’s the positive side, it’s really tight and it’s right there to be had,” Joshua said. “You get on a run here and, in a couple of weeks, it’s a whole different story.
“Everyone in this room has battled adversity at some point in their career. There are glimpses or spurts of good hockey, so we know we can do it. The belief is here.”
Q: How are the newest Leafs fitting into their patchwork roles?
Stecher was thrilled his first game in blue and white, wearing a fireman’s helmet of sorts. With 13:31 of ice time, he brought some order to the breakout and coverage, and drew a penalty by Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich on his first shift by keeping his feet moving.
“They said I dove,” Stecher protested of the Blues’ insinuation, claiming he had earned the call the hard way.
Quillan went the distance after his January NHL christening was ended by a knee-on-knee hit by Nick Cousins of Ottawa. Quillan had a supporting role in Jake McCabe’s goal to make it 1-1, had four hits, but lost all five draws.
With Toronto ranked second in NHL faceoff percentage (55.7%) that’s a craft the Marlies callup knows he must get up to NHL speed at.
“That’s why I was working on draws today with Laughton,” Quillan said.
Q: How is the 35-year-old Tavares holding up in what was supposed to be a reduced role?
On Tuesday, he played a season-high 23:43 with the OT, had some fancy foot work in a 3-on-1 board battle to set up William Nylander’s winner and came out for two lengthy media scrums on back-to-back days. Shades of his previous incarnation as captain of the often-overwhelmed Islanders.
Berube says the staff is looking for ways to ease Tavares’ workload, though missing so many centres complicates that notion.
“Sometimes you have to compete when you’re tired,” the coach said. “Those are the things yo try to push yourself through in the off-season (a legendary Tavares training regimen).
“The schedule has been condensed right off the hop, so it’s understanding the importance of between games (an off-ice session for him Wednesday).”
X: @sunhornby