Maple Leafs Notebook: Why Nick Robertson is getting scratched again

TORONTO — As the Tampa Bay Lightning returns two critical components to their deadly power play, Toronto Maple Leafs facing off against Kalle Jarnkrok.

Coach Craig Berube is naming the point forward for Monday's key division game because he was a strong penalty killer and had some defensive prowess on his fourth line.

But Jarnkrok's exit from the press box means someone else must step up.

And it will be Nick Robertson again.

Robertson had his best period in the NHL last month, performing well as a top-six player for the Maple Leafs. At first he was demoted to fourth place in favor of Easton Cowan And Max Domi.

What does Berube think about the forward's performance?

“Well, it stopped. And I talked to Nicky this morning,” Berube said. “Obviously, part of the time is ice time. And he played in the top six, and he did a good job. And then you make changes.”

“But I'm absolutely confident he'll get it back. You know, in my opinion, he's lost a little bit of his jumping ability and the tenacity that he plays with. But at the same time, it's a little bit of ice time and an opportunity to get an opportunity.”

What comes first: the jump or the time on the ice?

In Robertson's world, time is a flat circle.

Third liner Pontus Holmberg was pushed to center ice at Scotiabank Arena to lead the Lightning's stretch run ahead of the rematch in Toronto.

“Actually, I was ready to come back, but something happened,” Holmberg said afterward, smiling in the visitors’ room. “Right now, I'm happy to be here. It's a new beginning for me.”

GM Brad Treliving decided not to designate the 26-year-old defensive tackle as a restricted free agent, and the rival Bolts signed him to a two-year deal worth $1.55 million per season.

“Wow, I love this guy,” enthuses coach John Cooper. “He protects the puck like you can't take it away from him. And so when you need to kill the other team's momentum, just put it on your stick and he'll do it himself. He's a competitor. He's big. He's strong. And he's the core of a really good line for us – that may not score every night, but they can turn the ice over.”

The English mild-mannered Swede improved and Holmberg quickly won over his new teammates.

“They were having a rookie party,” Cooper said. “I always ask who the MVP is. Perhaps he has multiple voices.

“I think they had fun. He was really fun to be around. He fit in really well with us, I'll tell you that.”

Holmberg says he still keeps in touch with some of his old Leafs teammates and enjoys the weather in Florida.

“I relax a lot. I go out a little more,” he says. “It will be fun to play against them.”

The Maple Leafs made another adjustment to their power play.

What's old is new again in the Maple Leafs' infuriating power play.

In a last-ditch effort to turn around the league's 30th-ranked player advantage (14.1%), Berube returned to his original PP1 lineup from training camp.

Guard Morgan Rielly returned to the quarterback role after Auston Matthews and Oliver Ekman-Larsson's attempts up top didn't work.

Matthew Nice will again replace rookie Cowan, who had a chance to become a top-line coordinator from the wing.

“I came back to this unit. Looking at the video and going back to some of the numbers and stuff at the beginning of the year, these guys were actually pretty good and created a lot of opportunities,” Berube explained. “Didn't make it online. And a lot of times, if it doesn't make it online, you make a change and go from there. So, that was my reason for doing it.”

How about a more extreme setting? Destroy the talented PP1, create two balanced squads and force them to compete for ice time 5v4?

“What you brought up is a valid point, and I definitely thought about it,” Berube admitted.

There's no coach yet, even though the Leafs have scored two power-play goals in their last 11 games.

“Well, confidence is a big thing,” Berube said. “What happens is things don't go very well and you stop just being direct. You stop shooting and then you don't get anything out of it.

“We need to get back to keeping it simple, getting pucks in and getting to the net well. That's how we scored last year. Those big guys in front of the net and getting pucks in there was the DNA of our (24.8%) power play last year.”

Lightning loses Vasilevskiy, but gets double star boost

Tampa's best goalkeeper Andrey Vasilevskywas placed on injured reserve and ruled out for both Monday in Toronto and Tuesday in Montreal.

This is just the latest in a long list of injuries to besiege the Atlantic Division.

However, Cooper hopes Vasilevskiy can be available later in the trip, which ends Saturday in Long Island.

Meanwhile, the crease belongs to backup Jonas Johansson.

“JJ was out of the lights too,” said Hedman, who only returned from injury on Saturday. “We have complete faith in him.”

Disabling Defender Ryan McDonagh He skated on his own and without equipment, so he still needs time to recover.

“That’s a bonus for us,” Cooper said, flashing a grin. Some welcome health very much.

“Even with our performances in the Cup and everything, this hasn't happened to us since 2017. So, there's a lot of money sitting in the stands. But it's good to see the young guys coming in and filling the gaps for us.”

Disposable: Lefty Dakota Mermis comes for a right-hander Philip Myers about the Leafs' third pairing. Berube says Mermis is comfortable playing on the outside and wants to control the usage of both Myers and Mermis… Chris Tanev continues to ride with the group. He will be assessed again on Wednesday…. Despite three straight losses, the Lightning lead the Atlantic Division and have a four-point lead over Toronto… Hedman: “We haven't seen them without Mitch yet, so it'll be interesting to see.”

Maple Leafs projected lineup for Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning

Nice – Matthews – Domi
Cowan – Tavares – Nylander
Joshua – Roy – McMann
Lorenz–Laughton–Jarnkrok

Rielly – Ekman-Larsson
McCabe – engraver
Benoit – Mermis