Stability key issue as Giordano anticipated again in Maple Leafs lineup

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Within the second, Mark Giordano didn’t notice the extent of his harm.

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When the Maple Leafs defenceman blocked a shot by Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad on Nov. 28, there was ache. After the Panthers scored seconds later, Giordano made his technique to the Toronto bench and took his glove off.

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“After I checked out my hand, I knew immediately,” Giordano stated on Thursday after apply in his first media availability since struggling a damaged thumb. 

“Issues weren’t lining up straight, however it wasn’t that unhealthy, to be trustworthy.

“It was extra irritating than something since you really feel fairly good bodily apart from a finger. The one good factor that got here out of it’s you’ll be able to skate, possibly get a bit of little bit of leap again and in addition relaxation in the midst of the season. It simply sucks since you really feel fairly good all through the entire harm and you may’t play.”

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The expectation after apply by Giordano and coach Sheldon Keefe was that the 40-year-old can be within the lineup on Friday evening in Columbus in opposition to the Blue Jackets. 

There must be a stage of stability offered by Giordano, who has missed the previous 12 video games. Whereas we will respect the job that Simon Benoit and William Lagesson have accomplished because the Leafs have endured accidents to Giordano, Timothy Liljegren and John Klingberg, neither was signed to be an on a regular basis participant. 

With eight defencemen on the ice on Thursday, Giordano was paired with Liljegren. The fourth pair was Lagesson and Conor Timmins, and if that holds, Lagesson might be despatched again to the Toronto Marlies as soon as Giordano is activated. Benoit was with Jake McCabe, and Keefe saved Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie collectively. 

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“His expertise, his management presence, all of the issues that he brings to us (are vital),” Keefe stated in reference to Giordano’s attributes. “One of many issues in all probability understated is how he can transfer the puck in all three zones for us rapidly and effectively.”

That final level is essential, contemplating that puck motion has been a problem at occasions for the Leafs.

Giordano, the NHL’s profession chief in blocked pictures, merely is able to get again at it.

“I really feel nearly as good as might be,” Giordano stated. “It’s all the time those which are the softest pictures, to be trustworthy, that damage you. I broke my ankle earlier in my profession (in 2013 with Calgary) and it was only a muffin off the wing. 

“This one wasn’t a tough shot by any means, it simply acquired me in the fitting spot. Often these are those that get you, those that you simply don’t count on.”

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A KNIES GOAL

It appeared that Auston Matthews scored his twenty ninth objective versus Ottawa on Wednesday, however it was later credited to Matthew Knies.

Replays confirmed that Matthews’ shot glanced off the skate of Knies earlier than getting previous Senators goalie Joonas Korpisalo within the first interval of the Sens’ 4-2 win.

“I used to be fairly positive it hit my foot, however within the second, I wasn’t like ‘That was me,’” Knies stated. “(Matthews) was pumped for it, I needed him to have it. I came upon after the sport (that it had been formally modified). I had no thought.”

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With 28 objectives in 31 video games, Matthews has a very good shot at turning into the quickest lively participant to attain 30 objectives in a single season. The present mark is held by Alex Ovechkin, who scored 30 objectives in his first 34 video games for the Washington Capitals in 2013-14.

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LOOSE LEAFS

Lengthy after his teammates had departed on Thursday, John Tavares sat at his locker-room stall, taking off his gear as he spoke to a few reporters. The Leafs captain had simply come off the ice, the place he was working with improvement employees member Patrick O’Sullivan. “Simply engaged on my sport and making an attempt to proceed to maximise the chance we’ve got to practise and use the event crew,” Tavares stated. “I’ve been working with Patrick so much because the summertime. He has been nice in serving to affect my sport and resulting in a whole lot of good issues. I simply proceed to attempt to be sharp and get higher.” Is there any query about Tavares’ diligence? No … When he assisted on Tyler Bertuzzi’s objective in opposition to Ottawa, William Nylander not solely ran his level streak to 12 video games, he turned the primary participant in Leafs historical past to have two level streaks of at the very least 12 video games in the identical season. Nylander began 2023-24 with a 17-game level streak earlier than he was held off the scoresheet in three consecutive video games — the one three of the Leafs’ 32 video games thus far that Nylander didn’t file some extent. As effectively, Nylander turned the primary Leaf to have three level streaks of 12 or extra video games in his profession. Mitch Marner has had two, and Lorne Carr did it twice as effectively … The Leafs will play their fourth of 13 back-to-back units this weekend with the video games in Columbus and at dwelling to Carolina. They’re 1-0-2 within the first sport and 2-1-0 within the second. 

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