Amid slender loss, Maple Leafs’ Aston-Reese reveals potential as depth gem

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TORONTO — The countdown is on.

After a protracted yr spent ready for redemption, the variety of video games sitting between the Toronto Maple Leafs and one other crack on the post-season has been whittled right down to single digits. Sheldon Keefe’s membership bought No. 9 out of the best way Wednesday night time at Scotiabank enviornment. Solely eight extra stay earlier than these Leafs can attempt to show they’re greater than what they have been 12 months in the past.

And just one factor issues over the course of these eight video games. The time for classes discovered, for experimentation, for development, is thru. Right here, within the residence stretch, all of it comes right down to Sport 1, below the lights, with the Tampa Bay Lightning standing throughout from them — every night time till that one is just as necessary because the methods through which it may possibly assist them discover success in that second.

So, Keefe’s squad will take Wednesday’s additional time loss on the chin. As a result of extra necessary than the one level collected, in opposition to a determined Florida Panthers squad, are the indicators of key members of his locker room elevating their play, of issues ramping up when they should.

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For arguably the membership’s two most necessary items — star pivot Auston Matthews and certain playoff starter Ilya Samsonov — that was clear from the soar, each placing collectively strong performances in opposition to the Cats, even amid an eventual loss. However deeper within the lineup, the place the ice isn’t assured and the spots should be fought for, one other Leaf confirmed he’s prepared for the post-season battle, too.

“That 6-on-4 scenario, it’s going to occur once more for certain,” Leafs ahead Zach Aston-Reese mentioned post-game of the state of affairs that allowed Florida to flip this one late. “So, positively one thing we are able to watch the tape and be taught from. And hopefully down the stretch be loads higher at.”

Aston-Reese has confirmed to be a lot better down the stretch himself. That was evident Wednesday night time because the 28-year-old earned Toronto its first objective of the sport, practically added one other on a penalty-shot strive, chipped in on the penalty kill, and completed the night time tied with Matthews for the crew lead in photographs — all in eight-and-a-half minutes of ice.

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A standout efficiency from a member of the squad who doesn’t usually get alternatives to provide you with them, and one side of the explanation Keefe has continued to roll with 11 forwards and 7 defenders in the interim.

“That’s a superb instance of a man that I feel [has excelled] by this technique — the occasions we’ve gone 11 forwards, a man like Aston-Reese is taking part in extra,” Keefe mentioned after the ultimate buzzer had sounded Wednesday night time. “We’ve bought a backside 5 as a substitute of a backside six and we’re shifting these guys round. So I feel he’s gotten on the ice extra, he’s discovered extra of a rhythm. But additionally I feel because the commerce deadline passes, a man like him actually settles in. 

“We’ve been very clear with him about what our expectations are, what we want from him. I feel he’s carried out a extremely, very nice job right here. Over the course of the month of March, we like a variety of what he’s given us.”

It’s a superb signal for a Leafs crew that’s well-aware of the need of a top quality backside six, having time and time once more been outduelled within the post-season when their prime weapons are sitting on the bench. The membership is aware of, kind of, what it’ll be getting from the Core 4, and the opposite marquee names dotted all through the lineup. But it surely’s the others on the fringes who stay a question-mark — and who might wind up being the hidden-gem heroes when the time comes.

Each of Aston-Reese’s key performs Wednesday confirmed his potential to provide you with a type of unpredictable post-season moments.

Probably the most memorable of the 2 was probably the lesser profitable of them — a penalty shot that had the group roaring in approval, halfway by the sport with the 2 groups tied. 

Netminder Alex Lyon held him at bay. But it surely’s the play that arrange the penalty-shot try that must be of some consolation to his coach, because it confirmed sparks of rekindled chemistry between Aston-Reese and trade-deadline acquisition Sam Lafferty, who took a hefty hit to spring a sprinting Aston-Reese on an excellent breakaway probability.

Requested earlier this month about new Leaf Lafferty — after Lafferty arrange Aston-Reese for considered one of his two objectives in a standout efficiency in opposition to Carolina — Aston-Reese mentioned the pair actually have some experiences they will draw from.

“We have been linemates in Wilkes-Barre,” he mentioned. “I feel it was his first yr, my second yr. … We had a variety of factors collectively, we have been on the facility play collectively, penalty kill collectively. So, positively some chemistry there.”

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Aston-Reese’s extra triumphant second Wednesday would possibly’ve been simpler to overlook — a fast objective from the winger early within the second interval, after the Leafs had peppered Lyon however discovered themselves trailing 1-0. Digging for a chance within the offensive zone, Aston-Reese posted up in entrance of the Panthers netminder, prolonged throughout the goalmouth, and pulled out an suave deflection of a TJ Brodie level shot, tying the sport.

It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment burst of ability. Like his link-up with Lafferty, it was an indication of one thing that’s been slowly constructing — on this case, one thing the bottom-sixer’s been engaged on week in and week out whereas he’s hunted for extra manufacturing in his restricted minutes.

“I by no means get deterred,” Aston-Reese mentioned of that hunt. “It’s simply spending extra time in observe, on the market on the finish tipping pucks. I’ve been doing that loads on the finish of observe these days.

“Simply observe and keep it up. It’s a protracted yr. We’re hoping to go far within the playoffs. So that you’ve simply bought to keep it up.”

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