In the Maple Leafs’ home opener win against the Penguins, there were notable trends regarding ice time distribution among the forwards. Head Coach Craig Berube seemed to lean heavily on his top forwards while also dealing with the absence of key players such as John Tavares, who was out due to illness.
Matthews and Marner Lead the Way in Maple Leafs Ice Time
As expected, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner shouldered the heaviest minutes for the Maple Leafs forwards. Matthews led all forwards with 21:46 of ice time, including 4:59 on the power play and 1:45 on the penalty kill. Marner closely followed, logging 21:36. Both players saw their ice time increase in the third period, which reflects Berube’s trust in his stars to close out tight games. Their strong performances will be critical in navigating tough stretches of the season.
William Nylander’s Ice Time Sees an Uptick
Nylander, who had averaged 17:27 in the first two games, saw a bump to 20:52 in this contest. His increasing minutes signify that Berube is beginning to rely more heavily on Nylander, especially in tight situations. Nylander was instrumental in this win, contributing to the team’s offensive push and setting the tone for his season.
Matthew Knies Gets More Ice Time in Tavares’ Absence
The absence of John Tavares presented an opportunity for Matthew Knies, who logged 21:06, including 4:02 on the power play and 2:07 on the penalty kill. Knies was inserted into the top power-play unit after Max Pacioretty’s early struggles. The change yielded better results. Knies scored a goal and generally demonstrated his ability to step into a bigger role when needed.
Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty Struggled
Conversely, Ryan Reaves saw limited minutes, logging just 7:04 total. Of that time, only 1:51 came in the third period. Reaves, David Kämpf, and Steven Lorentz were on the ice when Pittsburgh scored to narrow the gap to 3-2. That fact might explain Berube’s decision to bench them for the remainder of the game. Max Pacioretty’s ice time also dropped noticeably from his first game. He skated only 10:56 in the Penguins game. With questions about his defensive play and age-related concerns, Berube seemed cautious in using him during the final period while defending a lead.
The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs Forwards
The bottom line is that the top six are performing well, except for the surprising absence of Auston Matthews from the scoresheet so far. However, his defensive contributions are stellar. He keeps the team competitive even when he’s not scoring. It’s not as if Matthews isn’t creating chances; his shots have been close, hitting the crossbar or post. Despite this, Matthews’ value to the team remains irrefutable, and it’s only a matter of time before the pucks start going in for him again.
