Maple Leafs Notebook: How injury carousel impacts the lineup

TORONTO — Conor Timmins channelled his inner Cale Makar on Saturday, spinning an on-changing Canadiens defender at the blue line, gobbling up his newfound space by darting toward the Montreal net, then blasting a puck past Samuel Montembeault. It marked Timmins’ first of the season and the Maple Leafs’ only five-on-five strike in a four-game week.

Sure, the spin-o-rama was semi-accidental due to a bobbled puck. And, OK, Timmins’ snipe ricocheted off Christian Dvorak’s butt. But it was still a confident, heads-up strike.

A confidence booster in an autumn — pleasantly, surprisingly — filled with them for the depth D-man.

“Instincts took over and tried to get the puck on net, and it went in,” Timmins said, during what was likely the longest post-game scrum of his NHL career. “Not having got one in a while, to see it go in was a great feeling.”

When the new coach got hired, we wondered which Maple Leafs would be “Craig Berube guys.” Power forwards like Matthew Knies and hardnosed defencemen like Jake McCabe are no surprise.

Timmins is a different tale.

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The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds product was brought in by Kyle Dubas and re-signed to a $1.1-million cap hit well before any contract deadline. It seemed like a hefty commitment to a seventh defenceman on “a developmental path,” as ex-coach Sheldon Keefe once described Timmins’ former status as a professional practice player.

An offence-first, third-pair right shot coming into camp blocked by Timothy Liljegren five-on-five and Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the power play? 

Certainly, Timmins would be bound for the press box or, worse, the waiver wire.

And yet, the 26-year-old not only outplayed Liljegren to earn an opening-night spot, he has asserted himself as the more dependable and dynamic half of the third pair.

The guy who has never appeared in more than 27 games in a single NHL season or averaged more than 16:01 on ice as a Leaf is on track to crush career highs in every category.

“He’s been playing great,” William Nylander raved, minutes after Timmins was awarded the club’s player-of-the-game wrestling belt. 

“I mean, tough years in the past, not playing so many games, and I think he’s been doing a tremendous job out there, making really good plays with the puck and playing solid defensively.”

Timmins has skated more than 17 minutes in each of his past six outings and should remain in the lineup even when fellow righty Jani Hakanpää (knee) is ready to draw in.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve played in an everyday role. I’m just really enjoying it, staying present in the moment, and team’s been playing well,” says Timmins, who pinpoints two areas of growth.

“My simplicity — making the play when it’s there and not forcing things. Also defending, I think I’ve taken a step. I’ve been a little stronger on my defending, and that’s really helped.”

Timmins believes Berube’s all-hands-on-deck defensive system, which demands more diligence from the forwards, has benefitted his game and makes it easier on everyone.

Berube recognizes the heads-up Timmins has no issue making a clean outlet pass, sparking speed through the middle of the neutral zone, and occasionally unleashing his underrated shot — which got him rewarded with a rare power-play look Saturday.

But it’s Timmins’ D-zone comfort that has won the coach’s trust.

“You know, his competitiveness is what really stands out to me,” Berube says. “Defending and winning battles and breaking pucks out under pressure.”

The patiently rehabbing Hakanpää says he can see “light at the end of the tunnel” and is just awaiting LTIR clearance. He has wrapped his conditioning stint with the Marlies, returned to NHL practice, and could pull on a Maple Leafs sweater as early as this week.

When he’s ready, it’s lefty Simon Benoit who should come out. 

Not Timmins. 

Not yet. 

Not the way he’s performing. 

Who cares how he curves his stick?

Pacioretty a bigger loss than imagined

Max Pacioretty gripped his left hamstring and needed help from two teammates, John Tavares and Ryan Reaves, to hobble off for evaluation Saturday, and has now been confirmed to miss “several weeks,” according to GM Brad Treliving. 

“It’s unfortunate for him and us. I feel for him,” Berube told reporters Monday. “He’s a worker and a very good pro. He’ll get back.”

Pacioretty’s absence is at once a blow and an opportunity. 

The eldest Leaf had also been the team’s most frequent body checker (40 hits in 13 games played) and a nice source of secondary scoring (two goals, six points).

“Really tough to see him go down,” Timmins said. “He’s been a great addition to our team, been playing physical, contributing on offence, and then just the role he’s had off the ice with the young guys. He’s been a great teammate.”

Treliving spun positive, noting that the injury-prone veteran’s week-to-week “lower body” prognosis is shorter term than initially feared. (A pulled hamstring, not a torn one, we’re hearing.) 

The greatest positive may be the ice time that opens for another, younger winger in the top six. Toronto needs some non-star forwards to start producing.

The snakebit Nick Robertson is a candidate.

Bobby McMann was Berube’s choice in-game Saturday to join Tavares’s left flank.

Why?

“A similar player to Pacioretty. Strong guy, skates well, finishes checks with that line. I didn’t mind Bobby at all,” Berube said.

As a healed-up Connor Dewar enters the fold — he’s finally off LTIR and led Monday’s post-practice stretch — the coach has options to play with here.

Berube says he’ll “tinker.”

O Captain! 

Auston Matthews remains on injured reserve with his nagging, undisclosed upper-body injury that, Berube revealed, traces back to training camp, when the captain missed some time and kept his pre-season appearances to a minimum.

After skating solo Saturday and Sunday, Matthews rested Monday. He is doubtful to play Tuesday.

No rush.

The Leafs have been cooking in Matthews’ absence, going 3-0, outscoring their opposition 11-2, and piling seven power-play goals in 13 attempts.

“We just want to make sure we get ahead of it and hopefully get it behind us once and for all,” Treliving said. “So, he’ll remain day-to-day.”

One-Timers: Calle Järnkrok suffered a setback in his recovery and is off to New York to see a specialist…. Max Domi and William Nylander (maintenance) missed practice Monday but are expected to play Tuesday versus Ottawa…. Matt Benning was placed on waivers before suiting up one game for the Leafs…. Shane Pinto, who missed eight games with an undisclosed injury, announced he’ll be returning to the Senators lineup in Toronto…. Domi hasn’t registered a point in 10 games, while linemate Mitch Marner is riding an eight-game streak… Prospect Fraser Minten has two assists in his first two professional games with the Marlies…. And Easton Cowan is now carrying a 49-game(!) regular-season point streak in the OHL.

Maple Leafs projected lines Tuesday vs. Ottawa Senators:

Knies – Domi – Marner 
McMann – Tavares – Nylander 
Robertson – Holmberg – Dewar
Lorentz – Kämpf – Reaves

Rielly – Ekman-Larsson 
McCabe – Tanev 
Benoit – Timmins 

Stolarz
Woll 

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