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![Tyler Bertuzzi](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/torontosun/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CP170329240-e1711676516316.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=xsLVcHpnK4RVrgK8pe3PVA)
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We interrupt this narrative on lack of defensive depth with the Maple Leafs for a particular pronouncement from Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie.
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Don’t rely them out of essential roles when playoffs roll round in three weeks. Lacking injured starters Morgan Rielly, Joel Edmundson and Timothy Liljegren, Toronto leaned on the 2 veterans in Thursday’s 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals, which dodged a three-game dropping streak and restored equilibrium to a roster dropping some steam late in common season.
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The 40-year-old Giordano, a shock addition to the lineup after being quietly activated late within the day from injured reserve to switch an in poor health Liljegren, had an eventful return. He acquired an iffy early penalty for pushing Caps’ icon Alex Ovechkin round, then scored his second of the 12 months. Matthew Knies discovered open ice throughout a Caps line change and located a dashing Giordano for a excessive blocker aspect wrister on Charlie Lindgren.
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Brodie blocked three pictures early within the sport and with companion Ilya Lyubushkin additionally generated scoring possibilities. His season has been stricken by inconsistencies that led to a latest benching.
Giordano’s purpose was a part of a 19-shot first interval to go together with 25 to kick off the sport earlier than towards New Jersey. That one ended badly for the Leafs and put a number of veterans in coach Sheldon Keefe’s canine home. Thursday they didn’t let up, scoring 18 ticks into the second interval with a powerful push and Tyler Bertuzzi banking a shot off Lindgren from behind the web.
Max Domi hit the crossbar on an extended breakaway that may have put the Caps on ice faster, as a substitute they received on the board shortly after on a Nic Dowd deflection. That rally was quashed with some heavy lifting by the fourth line when Ryan Reaves arrange Connor Dewar for his first as a Leaf. Bobby McMann and Bertuzzi added targets within the third, Bertuzzi’s 18th, when Domi pressured Trevor van Riemsdyk into coughing it up within the slot. The Leafs had been one shot shy of fifty in clearing 40 consecutive video games for the primary time this 12 months.
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After lacking 5 video games following the surprising passing of his father in February, Giordano performed two video games and went out of the lineup once more with a concussion. He was partnered with Conor Timmins on Thursday as Keefe will look to solidify pairings for April.
Talking of the post-season image, Toronto put 4 factors between it and the wild-card Tampa Bay Lightning, each now right down to 10 video games.
Auston Matthews was in a position to play each ends of an all-star match-up towards Ovechkin after staying dwelling within the morning with what Keefe hinted was a non-flu associated sickness. Matthews had a bevy of pictures, however not the sixtieth purpose many at Scotiabank Enviornment hoped to see. He has missed Mitch Marner, now 9 video games absent with a sprained ankle.
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Ovechkin, who scored a pair towards the Leafs final week in a dropping trigger, got here in with 44 targets, 33 assists and 77 factors versus the Leafs. NHL Stats lists that as essentially the most by any participant towards Toronto this century, definitely essentially the most towards any staff exterior his personal division. He stays 46 targets behind Wayne Gretzky’s NHL report of 894.
Joseph Woll made 24 saves, reversing some tough latest begins.
lhornby@postmedia.com
X: @sunhornby
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