BURSTTORONTO — The old doctor’s setup line comes into play following the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
Well, we’ve got good news and bad news: Which do you want first?
Let’s start on a positive note, and that would be the work of Max Pacioretty.
The 36-year-old is but the latest fading offensive star who has latched onto Toronto’s ready-to-win core and is taking less money, less security, and less ice time to do so.
Pacioretty — a six-time 30-goal man — has already battled back from one trip to LTIR this season and has spoken openly about gratitude for his opportunity and a willingness to accept and adapt to a support role if it means helping the team win.
Former all-stars Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, and Patrick Marleau all sang from the same songbook when they joined these Leafs late in their illustrious careers. And while those wingers experienced various degrees of success, none left Toronto with a ring.
A night like Thursday — when he gets tossed over the boards in a top-six role with a dialled-in John Tavares and buzzing William Nylander — reminded Pacioretty what it felt like to contribute like those days of prime health and importance.
Reinventing himself into a hard-checking grinder, Pacioretty scored two goals by driving the net, including the tipped-in winner; added the primary assist on Nylander’s mid-air circus strike; and threw a team-high three hits in 18-plus minutes of work.
Kinda nice to throw down a three-point night like old times?
“It is,” said Pacioretty, before reminding himself who he is trying to become.
“I got to make sure I balance everything in terms of being hard to play against and playing straight lines. And I can’t get away from that, no matter what the outcome is. So, started to feel that fade a little bit, but in the third, I got back to that. And I think that’s definitely where I’m helping out the line and the team the most.
“But definitely, there are areas where I can maybe get lost a little bit and try and get a shot off.”
The Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander unit was a threat both off the rush and with prolonged cycle shifts, dominating the high-danger chances 8-1 whenever they hit the ice together.
Pacioretty said he anticipated Tavares’s blind setup on his opening goal, and defenceman Conor Timmins said he was shooting not to score but for Pacioretty’s timely screen on the winner.
“Things seems to be coming together a little bit,” Pacioretty says.
Adds Joseph Woll: “He’s still got a pretty good touch. So, it was awesome to see him scoring, and I thought that line looked great all game.”
Among roster players, only Ryan Reaves has more hits per 60 than Pacioretty (13.9), who is also being depended on to improve Toronto’s dip in secondary scoring.
“Sometimes that happens. You end up on different teams, where teams need different things out of you as a player,” Nylander says. “He’s bought into it really well and is doing an unbelievable job in that role.”
But not quite as unbelievable as Thursday’s starting goalie, Anthony Stolarz, had been doing in his.
Now for the bad news.
Getting the nod as a reward for his all-world showing Tuesday in New Jersey, Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury in the first period — presumably on his only goal allowed — and did not return to the game after his first-intermission checkup.
Stolarz (9-5-2) has a troublesome history of multiple knee injuries and multiple surgeries. He has never played more than 28 games in a single season but was well positioned to do so in his first as a Leaf.
Starting this weekend, the busy Maple Leafs have four back-to-backs in a 22-day span.
As fantastic as Woll was Thursday in relief and has been generally since recovering from his own injury, Toronto needs two guys to hold the fort.
“It is concerning, for sure,” said Berube, who should update the severity of Stolarz’s injury at practice Friday. “Hopefully we get good news out of it.
“We’re fortunate to have two guys that have played extremely well this year.”
As would be the case with any team, the callup options down on the farm aren’t perfect.
Veteran Matt Murray (2-1-2, .912) has been solid in his first six Marlies appearances this season, but he “tweaked something” five days ago and hasn’t played hockey since.
Beastly Dennis Hildeby (2-2-2, .897) got his first two-game peek at NHL action in October when Woll strained a groin, but he’s been uneven as of late.
Twenty-three-year-old Artur Akhtyamov (8-0-1, .929) has performed best among the bunch, but management doesn’t want to rush the prospect into the show before he plays 10 games in North America.
Our bet: Hildeby gets the call Sunday versus Buffalo if Stolarz needs to heal, but the ball is Woll’s to carry for now.
Stolarz gave Woll a fist bump right as the first period concluded, as well as a heads up that the No. 2 should mentally prepare to take over.
“Kind of mixed emotions,” Woll said. “I’m obviously sad for him. I don’t want him to get hurt and whatnot. At the same time, I got a job to do — and you have to kind of trigger that on.
“So, I hope he’s all right, and hopefully it’s nothing too bad.”
Reached for comment, Leafs Nation said: “Ditto.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• Toronto’s five-forward power play is mired in an 0-for-7 funk, and it looks worse than those numbers. With the club’s five-on-five scoring also taking a dip, and now a goaltending fright, a 20th-ranked PP won’t cut it.
• Jacob Trouba was so good as a teenager, he was brought up early to join Jake McCabe on Team USA, and the two won gold together at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships.
“I’ve known him for 15, 16 years,” McCabe says. “Back then, he had a similar game that he has now. Plays hard and throws the body around. Shoots the puck hard. Leader. So, obviously a new start for him here with Anaheim.”
• Leafs fans showered lusty boos upon Radko Gudas every time Anaheim’s captain touched the puck. Never forget…
• Billed as one of the exciting faces of the Ducks, Trevor Zegras is limping through a second straight season hampered by injuries and uneven production.
Stuck on four goals, the 23-year-old underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He’s expected to miss approximately six weeks.
• The Ducks aren’t going anywhere, but pending UFA Frank Vatrano — who scored on one of his five shots Thursday — might be.
The 30-year-old can play centre or either wing and popped off for 37 goals and 60 points last season. At a $3.65-million cap hit, the Leafs could do worse if they want to rent secondary scoring.
