Kyle Clifford, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Old-Time Hockey

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 Tuesday afternoon.

In the early minutes of the first period, Toronto Maple Leafs launched a dogged forecheck against the Columbus Blue Jackets’ defense.  In reaction, the Blue Jackets defensive pair of Werenski and Jones clearly manhandled at least one Leafs forechecker.

It was beginning to  appear that just like in game one, the Leafs, despite their early onslaught, might be worn down by a more physical Columbus squad

Fortunately, the situation suddenly changed with a single act by a utility Leafs player. That player, Kyle Clifford, raced into the Columbus zone and threw his towering torso at Blue Jackets defenseman Dean Kukan. Kukan crumbled to the ice and lay there for several moments before dragging his banged up body to the dressing room.

Clifford had delivered a clean, legal (although barely, perhaps), but thundering blow that had an immediate impression on the game and the fortunes of his team. Two things immediately changed in light of Clifford’s heavy hit. The Columbus Blue Jacket’s physical game was notched down and the Toronto Maple Leafs physical game was notched up.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Kyle Clifford

Jones and Werenski, especially, were noticeably more prudent in defending against forechecking buds. At the same time, the Leafs got bolder and Hyman, Kapanen, and Kerfoot started throwing their bodies around. The dynamic shift was palpable.

Despite dominating the opening period and outshooting the Blue Jackets by a wide margin, the Leafs failed to register a goal. The bolstered Buds didn’t lose heart, however, and carried the momentum into the second frame where Auston Matthews delivered in the inevitable opening tally. The Leafs carried the play the rest of the way and tied the series with a 3-0 victory.

From the moment that Clifford flattened Kukan until the twenty-minute mark of the third period, the Leafs were a clearly more aggressive and decisive hockey team. This was no coincidence. Although Clifford only saw scattered shifts for the duration of the game, his presence in a blue and white jersey made a difference throughout.

“He makes the other guys on his team bigger” is oft-repeated cliche which is uttered by TV hockey broadcasters all over North America. It’s an oft-repeated cliche because it’s true. The presence of a big bruiser or two on a hockey team has a profound effect that can’t be measured by advanced player statistics.

Clifford’s stroke on Kukan will register statistically as a single hit-the same as Alexander Kerfoot bouncing off of an opponent. However, it should be clear to any fan that they are not nearly the same thing

If our beloved Buds are to advance beyond this elimination round, it will be because they managed to insert some grit to their prodigious skill game.

The loss of Jake Muzzin, perhaps the only other imposing Leafs player, will make Clifford’s presence all the more vital.

Kyle Dubas was responsible for acquiring Clifford in the Jack Campbell trade early this year and he deserves his rightful props for the acquisition. The fact is, highly physical players who can also play up to the Leafs standards of skill are a rare thing, and therefore not easy to acquire.

As Dubas has said in virtually every interview he does, the Leafs value physical play, they just aren’t going to dress players who can’t also keep up.   The impact that Kyle Clifford had on Tuesday’s game give credence to this philosophy.