Quick Shifts: We’re about to see if these Maple Leafs are legit

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Read fast, before we become unverified.

1. How the Toronto Maple Leafs spin their stumbling start is by pointing to last year.

They’ll remind you — themselves? — how they mind-zapped away a treacherous October Men in Black–style by finding their stride in a scorching November and building toward a record-breaking regular season.

But if 2021-22’s incredible, Jack Campbell-fuelled 15-2 response tear is to be repeated, the Maple Leafs must show well in these next three games, each against a division leader.

The Boston Bruins (Saturday), Carolina Hurricanes (Sunday) and Vegas Golden Knights (Tuesday) are a combined 28-5-1.

Gulp.

These hockey teams are for real.

They defend hard, are blessed with forwards who finish, and they’re brimming with earned confidence.

“We know we’re going to be challenged to another level, and we’re looking to get to another level as a team,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I think we’ll be ready for it.

“I expect Boston is going to give us a lot to handle.”

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The Maple Leafs’ out-of-sorts blue line will receive a welcome addition in a healthy Timothy Liljegren, who slides into the fire alongside Morgan Rielly and should help stabilize the right side.

Staring at those big, bad B’s, Keefe is also injecting toughness in his bottom six with the recall of Wayne Simmonds, who was just the antidote needed two Saturdays ago in Winnipeg.

After resting his 34-year-old legs on the sidelines for a week, Keefe is betting on another Simmonds bump.

“He gives us more experience, gives us a different presence and energy in the lineup,” Keefe explained. “(He) provides something that’s required for the opponent.”

Which is a polite way of saying Saturday night should get physical. Emotional.

The coach, the GM, the players — they’re in for a battle these next three games.

By Wednesday morning, we should have a clearer idea of how prepared and interested in the fight these Maple Leafs really are.

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2. I appreciate Mike Rupp, who skated 600 games in the league, took time to break down Auston Matthews’ response during the Leafs-Flyers melee he helped start Wednesday.

Seeing the scrappiness unfold in real time at Scotiabank Arena, I was focused on Mark Giordano’s WWE-style charge into the fracas from all the way down in the Leafs’ zone.

“That’s what we’re all about here. We always got each other’s backs,” Matthews said postgame. “We take care of each other out there. It’s not surprising, but it feels good to have that support.”

Examining Rupp’s breakdown does shed light on some concerning body language, though:

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Should a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner drop the gloves — and risk a hand injury — just to satisfy a pesky Travis Konecny in garbage time? Of course not.

On the flip side, would it be nice to see Matthews grab an orange sweater or stand his ground firmer, gloves on, against a smaller opponent? Yep.

We can’t recall a single Leafs fan who was upset last season when Matthews got suspended for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin in Hamilton.

“He’s probably the best player in the league, and he stood up for himself. I think it’s rare when you see a guy with his talent go back at a guy,” Nick Robertson said at the time.

“For a guy to show that passion, to kind of retaliate a little bit, it’s kind of nice.”

Matthews, we’ll remind you, was developed in a more skills-based hockey environment in Arizona. His path here was decidedly different than, say, Giordano’s.

And his laughing off the brouhaha should really be secondary to the positive energy displayed by Giordano and Michael Bunting, who gave the Leafs some much-needed physical engagement.

“I dunno. There’s people saying some things. I don’t know why you’d want Auston Matthews to fight people. He’s obviously the top goal-scorer in the league at the moment, and you don’t want him to hurt his wrist or anything else,” Mitch Marner said.

“We’re not a fighting team. We’re a team that goes in together and helps each other out. I think that was a great response by our guys.”

3. Two men are responsible for these paper-thin Flyers (5-3-2) having won as many games as they’ve lost: coach John Tortorella and starting goalie Carter Hart.

Hart has gathered all the club’s 12 points. (Poor back-to-back backup Felix Sandstrom is still seeking his first career win.) Hart, 24, has a ridiculous .943 save percentage — 36 points above his career average.

His goals saved above average is 10 — tops in the NHL. His goalie point shares (estimated number of standings points he has contributed to his team) is 2.4 — best in the league.

Just a ridiculous performance.

“He was force-fed into the Philly organization on a really tough team for goaltenders, a really tough city for goaltenders. He’s had some ups and downs,” Tortorella said.

“But I’ll tell you right now: In the short situations here, in the first month, he has not only done the job and then some on the ice, I just love the way he handles himself off the ice. That’s what I look at.

“Short sample. He’s gonna have to keep doing it because we’re going to go through some growing pains. And it’s going to fall on him that the mistakes we make aren’t going to end up in the back of the net — but I think he’s done a terrific job so far.”

The coach is hoping Hart’s stellar play is contagious.

“They see Carter laying it out there, I think it puts them in a spot where, ‘I’m gonna give it for him,’” Tortorella said. “Hopefully it builds a little camaraderie.”

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4. Konecny (4-7–11 through 10 games) isn’t only stirring up hot messes in Toronto, he’s on pace for his most productive season.

The feisty Ontario native was asked if it has crossed his mind how close he came to being a Leaf. At the 2015 draft, Toronto held the 24th pick, the highly touted Konecny was tumbling, and the Leafs traded down for picks 29 and 61 (Jeremy Bracco).

The Leafs then flipped 29 (Gabriel Carlsson) to Columbus for picks 34 (Travis Dermott) and 68 (Martiņs Dzierkals).

Toronto got quantity; Philly secured quality.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. There’s been a number of times it’s come up. They had the 24th spot,” Konecny said.

“I’m just glad it ended the way it did. Now that I’m a Flyer, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

5. This isn’t the first time the bottom-feeding Buffalo Sabres have been shot out of a cannon in the first month of the season. They’ve teased their faithful in various autumns during this NHL-record 11-year playoff drought.

Something feels a little different this time around, doesn’t it?

Better.

Special.

Whether it’s the stability of GM Kevyn Adams getting extended early, the palpable dressing room culture instilled by coach Don Granato and filtered through respected new captain Kyle Okposo, or the proper mix of hopeful youth and the right veterans, the proper building blocks are getting stacked.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Tage Thompson looks worth every penny, and that the bones of a legitimate blue line (Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Jacob Bryson) are in place.

Still young, but it’s time to get excited about the direction Buffalo is shuffling.

Would love to see this group hang on and quench the drought.

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6. Have yourself a breakout, Gabriel Vilardi.

The L.A. Kings forward was drafted 11th overall five years ago but only played his 100th NHL game this week.

He’s not being overly used (16:17 ice time), but he’s being smartly deployed. Also helping: a career-best 23.4 shooting percentage.

Vilardi leads the Kings in goals (eight), points (13), and plus/minus (plus-3). These numbers are all the more impressive when you realize Vilardi starts the majority of his shifts in the D-zone and isn’t padding his stats with power-play cookies (11 of his points are even-strength).

GM Rob Blake signed Vilardi to a one-year, prove-it deal for $825,000, and he’ll be RFA with arbitration rights come summer.

Is there a better bargain in hockey?

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7. We’ll find out at 2 p.m. ET if Nicolas Aubé-Kubel clears waivers.

The Stanley Cup winner has been scratched for half of the Maple Leafs’ games, failing to register a point or snatch one of the team’s fourth-line roles that still remain in flux.

“I’ve talked to Kuby quite a bit right from preseason all the way through about his game and really pushing and taking advantage of opportunities that he gets,” Keefe said. “And it just hasn’t quite happened here for him.”

Aubé-Kubel is only 26. He’s on a $1-million, one-year deal. He’s never appeared comfortable among his new teammates.

GM Kyle Dubas, who is jammed at the maximum 50 contracts, offered him up for trade, but there have been no buyers.

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8. That Patrice Bergeron wasn’t fully on board with the signing of Mitchell Miller to the Boston Bruins should tell you what an ugly look this is for the organization. This “business decision” reflects poorly on the league and a sport that is reckoning with its cultural flaws, too.

“I was on the fence. I think as a person but also as a team, I think we stand for integrity and inclusion and diversity,” Bergeron told Elliotte Friedman.

“That was the first thing that, I guess, came out of my mouth. It goes against what we are as a culture and as a team, and for me as a person.”

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Then there is Joni Meyer-Crothers, mother of the boy, Isaiah, whom Miller bullied repeatedly in high school. She says the hockey player never directly expressed contrition for his despicable acts.

“He’s never reached out to my son. He never reached out to us,” Meyer-Crothers said Friday in an interview with WBZ on Friday in the aftermath of Miller’s signing.

“I don’t care how talented any player is. He could be the next Wayne Gretzky. But if your player that you’re taking doesn’t have character and isn’t a good human being, then you really might want to rethink what you’re doing.”

Do people deserve second chances? Of course.

Should a wrongdoer maybe, I dunno, apologize to the victim he traumatized first? Yeah, probably.

Please, take time to read the details of Miller’s behaviour before you wave his actions off as kids will be kids.

“I am not going to downplay that this has been a personal struggle as well as a professional struggle as we go through and try and separate the hockey player and the person,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney admitted.

“And I can’t categorically tell you this is the absolute right decision.

“This is an opportunity that we’re providing for a young man that is going to work to continue to earn trust and respect, as each and every one of us do every day. My own personal judgment on this wasn’t a final say. It was just part of the equation.”

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9. My 12-year-old son plays single-A hockey, a level that keeps him active, teaches him hard work and what it means to be a team player. They lose more than they win.

None of the kids or the parents on his team have illusions of making the show. We’re in it for fun. The games are no stakes.

Playing a more talented squad in the round-robin of a recent tournament, our boys rallied from down 3-0 to make it 3-2.

Naturally, the parents on our side cheered. Nothing crazy.

Then a 12-year-old on the opposing team scored a nice goal to make it 4-2.

He celebrated by skating up to the glass and making a shushing gesture to the opponents’ moms and dads.

My jaw smacked the cold arena floor at the audacity.

I couldn’t tell if I was more shocked or more furious or more frightened for what kind of man that kid will be raised to be.

10. Not a chance Anaheim Ducks goalie Anthony Stolarz was ready for this sucker.

Jakob Silfverberg sniped as pretty of an own-goal as you’re bound to see, and we can’t stop watching this:

Timo Meier — who was credited with the goal on the easiest shot of his life — is proof the hockey gods exist.

The San Jose Sharks star led the league in shots at the time he finally scored his first of the year. Now, he’s getting gifts from the clouds.

11. Congratulations, Devan Dubnyk, on a remarkable, resilient career.

Surely his roller-coaster trajectory through the pros gave him humility and perspective.

Dubnyk was one of the most grounded and friendly NHLers a reporter could cross paths with, and I always looked forward to the chance to speak to him. He avoided the canned answer.

I remember once asking him how a goaltender deals with a Bronx cheer during a rough outing.

“It’s about the worst feeling. It makes you angry and embarrassed at the same time,” he said. “Those are the worst two emotions while trying to win a game, and they fill you up fast when you hear a sarcastic cheer.”

Giving a sincere cheer for Dubnyk.

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12. Dave Keon > Bill Cosby

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