MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Martin Jones performs his manner into San Jose return

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Martin Jones is aware of the way in which to San Jose, in all probability higher than Dionne Warwick when she celebrated Tealtown in tune.

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It was Jones’ third and most profitable West Coast cease in an 11-year NHL goaltending profession, the place he ranked second in Sharks profession victories with 170 to Evgeni Nabokov’s 293.

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Coach Sheldon Keefe had that and the 33-year-old’s current sturdy outings in thoughts in beginning him for a fourth straight sport Saturday on the SAP Heart for the Maple Leafs.

“Jones is in a very good place proper now,” Keefe instructed reporters in Irvine, Cal., the place the membership practiced Friday after Jones received the primary two on the West Coast journey. “And the schedule is in our favour because it pertains to protecting him going.”

Having made it via the Los Angeles-Anaheim back-to-back with Jones stopping 58 of 59 pictures, adopted by a group day without work Thursday, Keefe can play him Saturday and if all goes nicely, once more versus the Sharks at house on Tuesday, the eve of the latter’s 34^th birthday.

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By then, both Dennis Hildeby will probably be absolutely immersed for his first NHL begin or Ilya Samsonov, with day off to get himself collectively again in Toronto, will try a return.

A local of North Vancouver, B.C., who has a present .930 save proportion, maybe Jones was born to shine on the coast.

Drafted by L.A., he was on the roster however didn’t play in its first Cup in 2012, although did have a task two years later as Jonathan Fast’s backup. His rights have been traded to Boston for just a few days in June of ’15, earlier than being swapped to the Sharks with whom he helped get to their first championship remaining, shedding to Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia and the enlargement Seattle Kraken have been his subsequent locations, earlier than signing with Toronto as insurance coverage.

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Not like a few depth goalies the Leafs misplaced on waivers, Jones was due a $100,000 US bonus in his minimum-wage Leafs deal, which Toronto administration calculated can be simply sufficient to scare off most cash-strapped groups.

NOAH’S ARC

Saturday can even be a homecoming for fourth-line winger Noah Gregor.

Not tendered a contract by the Sharks final summer time, he was on a PTO at Leafs camp and turned that right into a one-year deal. His pace and penalty killing have enhanced his worth.

“They handled me rather well and I made plenty of nice associates there,” Gregor stated of his two full years and two half seasons in San Jose. “The hockey was what it was (no playoffs because the membership ultimately embraced a rebuild). We weren’t the very best group, however we all the time labored exhausting.’’

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DON’T ROCK THE BOAT

With no even-strength objectives towards prior to now three video games (Carolina beat them with two on the ability play and an empty netter per week in the past), Keefe indicated no lineup modifications in any respect for Saturday, which means Nick Robertson sits a second sport in favour of Pontus Holmberg.

Having benched or demoted Holmberg just a few instances since final 12 months to accommodate different experiments, Keefe stated he felt he owed the Swede one other sport and likes him on left wing with Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok.

Robertson insisted Friday he’ll preserve engaged on his defensive acumen to spherical out his scoring potential.

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REAVES HOPES FOR RETURN

Earlier than the journey, Ryan Reaves declared himself almost able to return. That painful-looking leg harm he suffered Dec. 14 towards Columbus turned out to be a dislocated kneecap that has bothered him prior to now and “pops out and in,” to make use of his description, although not often sidelining him this lengthy.

Reaves stated the day off has been good for self-assessment because the 36-year-old’s affect on his new group has been lower than anticipated.

“Lots of issues occur if you watch. You see what the group goes via and the place I’m imagined to be including that I in all probability haven’t been the final short time — slightly extra bodily, slightly extra getting in guys’ face, slightly louder, that I’ve struggled with as my sport’s been struggling.

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“These are issues I see on TV and at any time when I get the prospect to convey that again within the lineup like I used to be imagined to. I’ve to get again to my sport and never fear in regards to the previous. I’d been engaged on getting I again after which the harm occurred.”

Leafs comparable to Simon Benoit, William Lagesson and rookie Matthew Knies have been concerned in scraps with Reaves out.

“That’s one thing we’ve been making an attempt to construct right here, group toughness,” Reaves stated. “Everybody who has dropped the gloves has carried out extraordinarily nicely.

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LOOSE LEAFS

With studies of an eight-year deal for William Nylander across the $11-million US stage getting nearer, anticipate the Leafs to wish to full it earlier than or after the NHL all-star sport. Presumably, they don’t wish to take away consideration from what is going to already be a Toronto-centric occasion … Upon being introduced with the group’s wrestling belt as sport MVP on Wednesday, the scoreless, stay-at-home defender Benoit instructed mates “I can’t rating a friggin’ aim, however I’m glad to hit the our bodies for you guys” … Auston Mattthews, named to his seventh all-star sport lineup on Thursday, is one behind Mats Sundin’s report for nominations, although each have needed to skip the occasion at instances resulting from harm. Matthews stated Friday he’s uncertain what expertise contest occasions he’s to be entered in … The Marlies, making an attempt to bust a five-game shedding streak, 4 of these setbacks by a aim, play Syracuse at house Saturday and Sunday, each 4 p.m. begins.

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