Stellar Stolarz, special teams lead Maple Leafs over Bruins

TORONTO — In a game that featured more minors than the queue outside the fake ID shop, it should come as no surprise that the team with the best special teams reigned supreme.

The latest edition of Maple Leafs-Bruins — an always-tight, forever-testy matchup — was a messy affair played out on choppy ice in which the referees’ whistles vastly outnumbered the high-danger chances.

But when your power play, penalty kill, and No. 1 goaltender are this dialed in, who needs five-on-five scoring anyway?

And so it was that the Toronto Maple Leafs (sans Auston Matthews) defeated their old nemesis during the regular season for the first time in nine tries, besting the Boston Bruins 4-0 on the strength of three power-play markers, a Steven Lorentz empty-netter, and a 29-save Anthony Stolarz shutout.

With execution lacking and the sides combining for just seven high-danger chances at even strength, Tuesday’s stop-and-start contest had about as much flow as modern-day Mats Sundin.

We should’ve seen this coming, actually, in an early-November showdown between two of the NHL’s three least-disciplined teams, both of whom are still searching for a prolonged stretch of excellence.

Toronto and Boston combined for 15 minor penalties, and the visitors lost both ends of the five-on-four battle. Simple as that.

“It comes down to special teams, and obviously we did pretty well in that department, so that had a big impact on the game,” said Morgan Reilly, who celebrated his return to PP1 with a game-winning shot through traffic midway through the second period.

“I don't think we're going to get carried away thinking we got anything solved. I think was just a matter of time.”

William Nylander banked a second PPG in off defender Brandon Carlo 74 seconds later. And Matthew Knies, who screened Jeremy Swayman on the Rielly shot, tipped a third by the Boston goaltender in the final frame.

“I’m a bigger player, so I like to take his eyes and just make plays down there. Let the skill guys be on the outsides, and they make incredible plays. So, I just got to put my stick in a good area, and I'm sure they can find me,” said Knies, who has been working on net-front drills after practice with his ex-landlord John Tavares. 

“Johnny is probably the perfect example. Before coming here, I saw what he could do, and I thought he was a great guy to learn from, especially in practice, kind of creating good habits.

“It looks easy, but it's definitely harder than it seems.”

Incredibly, Tuesday marked just the third time through the Maple Leafs’ 14 games that they’ve won the special-teams battle (they’ve lost it six times). 

But give credit where it’s due.

Despite not beating a goalie at even-strength, the Leafs have earned three of four standings points in their past two games, thanks to special teams and Stolarz — who is tracking well, stoning superstars at point-blank range, and separating himself as the team’s clear No. 1.

“A couple massive backdoor saves coming across the crease. Stolly’s been doing this all year for us in that net,” Mitch Marner said. “Big kudos to him.”

Stolarz was arguably the Leafs’ best penalty-killer, stoning David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand on grade-A looks and coming up with stops despite a dropped stick.

The Maple Leafs’ PK was a weak spot last season, dropping to 23rd overall.

After consulting with friend Barry Trotz, new coach Craig Berube hired veteran Lane Lambert to oversee Toronto’s man disadvantage. And Lambert is seeing the fruits of his detailed work — plus GM Brad Treliving’s targeting of a puck-eater like Chris Tanev in free agency.

After a perfect 6-for-6 showing against the Bruins, the Leafs have killed 17 straight and kept their opponents’ power-play off the board in four straight games.

“It's been outstanding,” Rielly said. “Obviously, Lane, that's his kind of area. And we spend a lot of time talking about it. That group takes a lot of pride in being stingy and blocking shots, and we got some guys out there that have done an outstanding job.” 

On this night, one of those guys was David Kämpf, who benefitted from extra PK shifts in Matthews’ absence. Just as players like Knies made the most of their PP time with the captain sidelined.

Sure, it wasn’t the most thrilling hockey, but snuffing the Bruins’ head-to-head win streak and triumphing in all odd-man situations signal a couple steps forward in this town.

“These guys have had us for a little bit now, so I think we were all a little bit frustrated in here, and we wanted to play physical and get on them,” Knies said.

“We were all angry at each other. It's a very emotional game between us. So, yeah, I'm not really shocked that there was some plays after the whistle and stuff like that. But I think we just had the better of them in the special teams department.”

Fox’s Fast Five

• Despite his lack of production and limited ice time, Nick Robertson never stops moving his feet.

The forward leads all Maple Leafs in penalties drawn (seven). Matthew Knies and Jake McCabe rank second on the club with five apiece.

All three drew whistles against Boston, the most undisciplined team in hockey (NHL-leading 79 penalties taken) by a wide margin.

• Berube had a one-on-one chat with Bobby McMann at morning skate. The power forward is trying to trust his reads and abilities during an eight-game point drought that featured an in-game benching during Toronto’s Oct. 26 loss in Boston. Self-doubt is creeping in.

"He was going good, and it kind of dipped a bit," Berube explains. "He needs to find it again. I think sometimes players overthink things and try to do more than they need to do. Like, his game needs to be a simple up-and-down game. Bang bodies and go to the net hard and things like that. He can be better, for sure."

• Smart decision by referees Brian Pochmara and Pierre Lambert, who missed Max Pacioretty’s hit that injured Boston’s Andrew Peeke.

They called a five-minute major only so they could review the play on video, then correctly ruled the hit clean.

Seems silly on the surface. But given NHL’s replay rules, it was the best way to get the call correct.

• Montgomery says his strategy for defending a five-forward Maple Leafs power-play would depend on which forward was up top:

“If it’s a guy like Marner, who doesn’t shoot much, maybe you stay off him, so you’re tighter to the next pass. But if it’s Matthews, you probably want to get out in that shot lane.”

• Calle Järnkrok (lower body) has been on LTIR all season and hasn’t skated with his teammates since training camp. He was spotted on the ice for a solo skate Tuesday morning for the first time since suffering a suspected sports hernia.

The middle six could use him.