TORONTO (Jan. 1) — The Maple Leafs came up with their biggest victory of the season on Tuesday night, blanking the New Jersey Devils, 4–0, at Scotiabank Arena. Clearly, it couldn’t have happened without major contributions from the big–money boys on the roster. Yet, the club’s four most–important players; its self–acknowledged “leaders” — Anthony Stolarz, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Chris Tanev — were sidelined with injuries.

Very interesting, wasn’t it, that mostly interchangeable parts silenced Sheldon Keefe’s crew?

Interesting. But, not overly puzzling.

You see, the best players on the Toronto roster couldn’t lead children to a school yard. We’ve been telling you so in this corner for ages. Matthews and Nylander have shown up sporadically in the first half of the schedule; no one quite certain when or why they will make themselves known, or disappear. When Nos. 34 and 88 are in the line–up, however, it is crystal–clear that teammates expect them to accomplish whatever is needed to subdue the opposition. After 39 games, though, it should sink in that neither “superstar” can be relied upon. Still, the mentality of the club — and it’s not exclusive to the Leafs — is to watch when the “big scorers” are in uniform and to work when they are not. Thus, an eye–raising conquest of a team considered superior, yet deadlocked with Toronto in the standings (42 points). A team that clobbered the Maple Leafs, 5–2, in the same arena on Oct. 21. With Matthews (zero points), Nylander (two assists), Tanev and Stolarz (.882 save–percentage) in uniform. Go figure.

If you’re a fan of the Maple Leafs, you should legitimately wonder how the club would respond to Craig Berube in the absence of its two highest–paid skaters. I’m sure Berube would be open to finding out… for an extended period. I haven’t seen him as relaxed and/or relieved after any game this season. Not having to deal with his primadonnas must have been heavenly for the second–year Toronto coach, who scratched out, with limited talent, a playing career in the National Hockey League of 1,054 games (from 1987 to 2003). Racking up 3,149 penalty minutes, which still ranks seventh on the all time NHL list, trailing only Dave (Tiger) Williams, Dale Hunter, Tie Domi, Marty McSorley, Bob Probert and Rob Ray. Along the way, Berube contributed 61 goals and 159 points. He never gave an inch on the ice. Do you honestly believe he’s impressed with the relative ballerinas at his disposal? When Matthews and Nylander are dressed and mystery prevails? I think not… and neither should you. All Matthews and Nylander have accomplished this season is to threaten Berube’s position behind the bench. Once they return, I fully anticipate another stretch of subpar performances that will again imperil the coach’s job security. No–such risk would likely be in play with the hard–working roster that silenced New Jersey here on Tuesday night.

Of course, goaltending was a factor. It has been for every Leafs regime (good and bad) since Bower and Sawchuk 60 years ago. Toronto hockey fans fondly recall the era of Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson, Darcy Tucker, Wade Belak, Tie Domi, etc. The tough–as–nails clubs in the late–90’s and early 2000’s coached so expertly by Pat Quinn. But, where would those teams have been without Curtis Joseph performing spectacularly, most nights, between the posts? So, yes, Joseph Woll had to be sensational to backstop the 4–0 win over New Jersey. But, the lunch–pailers at the mid and bottom portions of the roster all stepped up. As they knew was required to avoid embarrassment. Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, Calle Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies scored the goals; for Knies, his fourth goal in three games after a 10–game drought. All the “scrubs” put in a thorough effort and the Maple Leafs looked much livlier than in any recent encounters with Matthews and Nylander dressed.

So, now, the captain returns — against the ice–cold Winnipeg Jets: 1–7–3 in their past 11 games (still without goalie Connor Hallebuyck) and deadlocked with Vancouver at the bottom of the NHL standings. The Jets haven’t won a road game since Nov. 29, at Nashville. Should Matthews have a field day (or night) against such a foundering opponent? Of course. Instead, it will likely be another perfect night, at Scotiabank Arena, for Auston to snore through 60 minutes and help threaten a major upset. It’s rather elementary: the Maple Leafs perform with greater focus and energy in the absence of their “star” forwards. There is no surprise in this Sportsnet graphic:

What the statistics do not show is the urgency with which the “scrubs” play when the team is shorthanded. Take the four most–significant athletes from any roster in any sport and defeat is anticipated. Imagine the Edmonton Oilers without Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and Zach Hyman. Look at Florida, the two–time defending champion, without Matthew Tkachuk and Sasha Barkov all season — situated beyond playoff territory in the Eastern Conference nearing the midway mark of the schedule. These are players who automatically elevate performance as the stakes increase after mid–April. The Leafs of the Core–4 era have been devoid of any such skaters. Why shouldn’t the club sport a decent record when Matthews and Nylander are sidelined simultaneously?

The Chief will never admit so. But, his face after Tuesday’s triumph spoke volumes. It said: “Hand me a few more games without my season–long malingerers. I can get the other guys to step up. It’s much less of a challenge.”

OH NO, BUFFALO: What, prey tell, is going on just south of us… down the Queen Elizabeth Way? The Buffalo Sabres fire their general manager and reel off 10 consecutive victories, matching the Toronto franchise record, established at the start of the 1993–94 season? Did my old pal Kevyn Adams have to leave before his players began responding? It sounds absurd, but that’s precisely what has transpired. The Sabres haven’t lost since Dec. 8, at Calgary. The team last made the playoffs in 2010–11. That was my final year in radio at The FAN–590. A long fricken’ time ago. But, there are the Sabres today, occupying the second wild card spot in the East and only five points off the Adams Division lead. We saw that coming, didn’t we, Mike Harrington? Speaking of incredible, no proper words have been written about the Colorado Avalanche, having lost only two of their first 39 games in regulation time. The Avs, 30–2–7 for 67 points, sit comfortably atop the overall NHL standings by ten points over Division rival Dallas. By way of comparison, the 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens, considered by many the best team of the post–expansion era, stood 28–5–6 for 62 points after 39 games. The 2022–23 Boston Bruins, while winning a league–record 65 games, had four losses by this stage of the season. So, Colorado sits in rarified company nearing the midway point of the schedule. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are truly world–class performers.

MORE HAROLD BARKLEY PHOTOS FROM THE 1960’s

Featuring the Maple Leafs from the pre and post–expansion eras:

AT THE OLD MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, RANGERS GOALIE ED GIACOMIN AND LEAFS WINGER FRANK MAHOVLICH FOCUS ON THE PUCK. IT WAS THE FINAL SEASON OF THE SIX–TEAM NHL.

ED GIACOMIN’S BACK–UP IN THE FINAL YEARS OF THE SIX–TEAM LEAGUE WAS LANKY CESARE MANIAGO, HERE WATCHING THE PUCK SKITTER PAST HIS GOAL AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS IN 1966–67. WAYNE HILLMAN (NEW YORK) AND HELMETED RED KELLY ARE PLAYERS IN THE BACKGROUND. MANIAGO, WITH EXPANSION, BECAME THE NO. 1 GOALIE OF THE MINNESOTA NORTH STARS.

ALSO IN 1966–67, DON AWREY OF BOSTON FIGHTS OFF VIC HADFIELD OF THE RANGERS BEHIND GOALIE BERNIE PARENT, WHO WOULD BE CHOSEN BY PHILADELPHIA IN THE ’67 EXPANSION DRAFT.

JACQUES LAPERRIERE OF THE CANADIENS AND GORDIE HOWE OF DETROIT JOSTLE DURING THE 1966 STANLEY CUP FINAL, WON BY MONTREAL IN OVERTIME OF GAME 6 AT OLD OLYMPIA STADIUM.

CANADIENS CAPTAIN JEAN BELIVEAU HAS MAPLE LEAFS GOALIE JOHNNY BOWER AT HIS MERCY IN THIS MID–60’s MATCH AT THE MONTREAL FORUM. BUT, WHERE’S THE PUCK?

OFF–SEASON FISHING PALS GORDIE HOWE AND JOHNNY BOWER CLASH IN THIS 1965 EXHIBITION GAME AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS. BOTH TEAMS WORE THEIR PREDOMINANTLY COLORED UNIFORMS.

YVAN COURNOYER OF MONTREAL WAS ALWAYS A TRICKY RIVAL FOR THE LEAFS. HERE, AT THE GARDENS IN 1968–69, HE WAITS FOR A PASS IN FRONT OF TORONTO GOALIE BRUCE GAMBLE.

EXPANSION CAME TO THE NHL IN 1967–68 WITH THE ADDITION OF SIX TEAMS. THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS — FOR THAT SEASON ONLY — WORE UNIFORMS WITH THE CITY’S NAME STITCHED DIAGONALLY ON THE JERSEY FRONT. PLAYERS, HERE, LEFT TO RIGHT, ARE ART STRATTON (7), AL MacNEIL, PETER STEMKOWSKI (12) AND PITTSBURGH GOALTENDER LES BINKLEY.

LEAFS CAPTAIN GEORGE ARMSTRONG CHASES OAKLAND SEALS COUNTERPART TED HAMPSON IN 1968–69.

ALSO IN 1968–69, AT THE GARDENS, LOS ANGELES GOALIE GERRY DESJARDINS EYES THE PUCK WHILE BOB PULFORD LURKS NEARBY. THAT’S BILL (COWBOY) FLETT IN THE BACKGROUND.

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