P.A. Parenteau lingered after warm-up, among the last Maple Leafs to depart the ice, high-fiving a couple of fans.
On a night where the winger and perhaps a couple of others played their last home game – why not give a proper send-off Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre? Parenteau set up Josh Leivo for the winning goal and added insurance as Toronto tamed the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1.
A trip to Montreal is all that separates the Leafs from more roster upheaval up to Monday afternoon’s National Hockey League trade deadline. With Dion Phaneuf, Roman Polak, Shawn Matthias and Nick Spaling already moved out, Parenteau, an alternate captain with so many Leaf seniors chopped from the masthead, is arguably their most valuable trade asset. After his assist, he’s third in team scoring with 16 goals and 32 points.
Michael Grabner, Brad Boyes and depending on a Plan B in net, James Reimer, would be the other attractions for contending clubs. But Parenteau’s loss would further weaken the Leafs, who confirmed before Thursday that forwards James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul are being shut down for the remaining 23 games.
The victory kept them out of the league basement for the moment and avoided the first time since January of 1985 that they played a homestand of at least four games without winning one.
After some agonizing close calls, including from the opening face-off by the line of Nazem Kadri, Grabner and Brendan Leipsic, Toronto finally clicked late in its second power play.
Once again, newcomer Colin Greening’s bulk in front of the net prevented a loose puck from being corralled by goalie Cam Ward, allowing Boyes his long-awaited first goal with the man advantage. Net presence is what the Leafs have lacked on the power play since van Riemsdyk broke his foot.
Prior to that, Grabner continued his streak as the most unluckiest Leaf shooter in 2016. He has just one goal since Jan. 2, despite some glorious chances, including a few short-handed breakaways.
The Staal brothers, with a combined 67 points in 69 career games against the Leafs, were the only Hurricanes threatening in the first period, but Eric won a key draw on the tying goal. Beating Peter Holland back to John-Michael Liles, the ex-Leaf defenceman, who’d been in the box when Boyes scored, used a screen of Leafs to beat Bernier.
The Leaf goalie got lucky in the dying seconds of the period with a shot off the crossbar and the empty net rebound fired wide.
Eric’s absence from the morning skate touched off more trade whispers, but coach Bill Peters’ excuse of a maintenance day held up. Eric and Jordan were a combined 11-2 on the draw in the first, with four other Canes 1-for-8. Bernier stopped 30 shots for his first win at the ACC since Jan. 2 over the Blues, while the loss hindered Carolina’s February playoff push.
A Rich Clune penalty and Stu Percy giveaway to Jeff Skinner had the Canes poised to take an early second-period lead. But Viktor Loov was able to help break up a rush, gloving a puck ahead to Parenteau on a 2-on-1, feeding Leivo for his fourth in four injury-interrupted games. After the Leafs weathered a Daniel Winnik minor, their third of the game, Kadri found Parenteau on another perfect 2-on-1.
Parenteau was feisty throughout the game, serving two penalties, including an exchange with Skinner on a third period face-off. The previous two meetings were split between the clubs in low-scoring overtime contests. Though the Leafs have just 21 wins this season, they’ve not lost when leading after two periods, improving to 12-0-3.
Toronto will get some roster relief in Montreal now that Leo Komarov’s three-game suspension for a head shot on Ranger captain Ryan McDonagh eight days ago has ended. Komarov will likely be restored to first line right wing, bumping Leipsic. The latter survived an unpenalized boarding call on Andrej Nestrasil, avenged by Kadri’s clean check into the dasher that sent Nestrasil wobbling off the ice.
A rare night when everything worked out perfectly for Toronto, even if it was Parenteau’s last in town.
lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca
