Toronto Maple Leafs: Marlies Face Toughest Challenge Yet

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have been absent from the postseason since mid-April. But, the same can’t be said about the Toronto Marlies.

After putting the finishing touches on a shocking sweep of the powerhouse Syracuse Crunch, the Marlies enter the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three years, where they’ll tussle with the LeHigh Valley Phantoms.

Normally, the third round is far from unchartered waters for a team this accustomed to their season carrying into the summer. Over the past four years, the Marlies have logged a total of 40 playoff games, averaging 10 extra contests per season.

Only, this time around is different.

In fact, there happens to be one distinct factor setting this particular third round title fight apart from the previous two.

When the Marlies hit the ice on Saturday, it will be a whopping 11 days since they did so for an organized hockey game.

Momentum

Such rest, in the postseason no less, is unprecedented.

While a week and a half sabbatical did undoubtedly allow the Marlies and their veterans to nurse the usual postseason bumps and bruises, it presents a downside as well.

As the saying goes, players love to play. Is that a saying? If not, I’m copyrighting it right now.

Hockey is a game of momentum. Such an assertion is especially true come playoff time. Year after year, we’re treated to the spectacle of a typically “pretty good” team catching lightning in a bottle and riding it to a Stanley Cup.

I mean, Marc-Andre Fleury is a “pretty good” goaltender. But, and be honest here, is he “.950 save percentage” good? History certainly doesn’t think so.

For the Marlies, they’re no different. Over the last month, they’ve seen a number of their effective players turn into straight up mutants once the playoffs began.

Regular season Dmytro Timashov was relatively underwhelming, finishing with 32 points in 63 games. Playoff Timashov, however? Well, he’s racked up 7 points in 9 games while looking utterly dominant.

It’s the guys in Timashov’s camp who I’d wager aren’t exactly thrilled with so much downtime.

Don’t Think, Just Do

While the “rust” argument may be a tad overcooked, getting into a rhythm certainly isn’t.

The AHL happens to be a league where teams endure the brutality of three games in three nights. At that point, muscle memory takes over. And, if you find yourself on a hot streak, your body adjusts to it naturally, allowing you to essentially run on autopilot.

Allow me to provide an example.

On a personal note, I recently began a new job which requires me to wear a suit every day. You know? Just your typical adult stuff.

Well, the other morning I woke up at the crack of dawn to get ready for the oncoming day. And on that day, I was so unbelievably tired, I could barely think. Still, as I began to regain consciousness, I realized I had actually been successfully tying my tie without even knowing it. I had done it every morning, day after day, that my body just did it out of habit.

Basically, suiting up for highly competitive hockey games is the athlete version of tying a tie.

God, I’m out of shape.

The mental aspect heavily factors in as well. Playing do-or-die games every other night grants far fewer opportunities to overthink your performance.

Bad game? You’ll get a chance to rectify it in less than 48 hours. So, relax.

11 days off, though? That’s 11 days to nitpick through every minute intricacy of your last performance. And while that may be optimal for corrective purposes, it can just as easily make a mountain out of a molehill.

Outlook

Thankfully, Sheldon Keefe is a smart man.

To combat the spectre of downtime, Keefe implemented a number of practice procedures to challenge his players during the recently completed off-week.

Namely, he’s run extended practice sessions, ensuring his troops maintain a feel for the pace of action. And, perhaps most notably, the Marlies held extended team scrimmages from Tuesday to Thursday.

I’m talking full benches and actual refs, folks.

Such measures ensure that, when the Marlies take on a punishingly physical Phantoms squad, they’ll do so having at least experienced some semblance of game action in the days leading up.

So, after completing a season which saw them counter a combination of injuries, call-ups and brutal stretches of travel, the Marlies find themselves as prepared as ever to face their toughest challenge yet:

Rest.

Next: Kyle Dubas and Hidden Talent

Thanks for reading!