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Max Pacioretty would rather have a better view — if not from the bench, then from the ice.
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The Maple Leafs veteran forward, while he has been on the sideline nursing a lower-body injury, has been impressed in what he has witnessed.
Whether it’s Mitch Marner leading the way offensively, youngsters such as Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin filling roles or the goaltending of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, the Leafs continue to come together to win hockey games as several teammates are out with injuries.
Toronto is 6-2 in eight games since Pacioretty was hurt on Nov. 9 in a home game against the Montreal Canadiens.
On Tuesday, Pacioretty spoke to media for the first time since he was injured.
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“It’s a testament to the depth of this organization, also the kind of the system we’re playing and the buy-in from everybody,” Pacioretty said. “All the best teams I’ve been on, when it’s the next-man-up mentality, when you have the right structure, the right foundation, the right leadership, those teams seem to not really lose a stride and that is the case with our team.
“I just like that we’re doing what it takes to win hockey games. Sometimes that’s cracking down defensively. Sometimes that’s trying to create a little bit more offence. Sometimes that’s special teams. Sometimes you really need your goalies.
“There’s not (only) one way to win in this league and the teams that only know how to win one way normally don’t go very far when it matters most. We’ve won a lot of hockey games as of late in a lot of different ways and that’s what the best teams do.”
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There’s the kicker. When push has come to shove for the Leafs in the recent past, losing the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs became the norm.
Whether it’s winning tight games or building a lead and easily keeping the opponent at bay, the Leafs continue to be a stingy group.
Coach Craig Berube has them playing the kind of hockey that brings success in the post-season, no matter who is in the lineup.
“We get to look at some young guys coming in the lineup and getting an opportunity to play and see what they can do and they’ve done a good job,” Berube said. “On the other side of it, it’s the character of our team, how they handle the situation. We’re still missing a bunch, but they’ve got to keep grinding and keep working. It shows that we’re playing a good team game. That’s what I look at.”
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For Pacioretty, the waiting will continue.
“It’s no (mental) challenge,” Pacioretty said. “Just injuries in general, the last three years haven’t been great in that department for me.
“If anything, I’ve learned that you don’t want to ever get injured, but there’s maybe a bit of a silver lining. You can work on some stuff and get your body feeling right in a time of the year where it normally doesn’t feel right.”
Pacioretty is not eligible to come off long-term injured reserve until Saturday when the Leafs visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Some of it’s not in my control, but I feel really good,” Pacioretty said.
“My step today was the first practice with the team. This time of year, those don’t come too often and took advantage of that. I’m sure we’ll figure out the next step.”
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