Pacioretty, Tavares lead Maple Leafs to big win over Jets

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Craig Berube rewired the Maple Leafs offence and jolted a few Maple Leafs to life, namely Max Pacioretty. 

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Trying to rediscover his place and purpose in the NHL after a torn Achilles tendon threatened his career, the 35-year-old wasn’t lost in the shuffle as Toronto ended a three-game losing streak in a tight game in Winnipeg. He was promoted on Monday night against the previously undefeated Jets (8-1-0) and while he didn’t help the ailing power play, which was 0-for-2 in a couple of early chances, he had three assists and along with linemates William Nylander and John Tavares was plus-3 as the Leafs hung in for a huge 6-4 win.

The empty net goal gave Tavares a hat trick to better the Jets’ Kyle Connor by one.

“Things change throughout the year. I can’t get too high or low about the position I’m in,” Pacioretty told media in Winnipeg before the game. “There are different ways I can contribute.” 

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Berube didn’t like the finish as a 4-0 lead dried up, giving up two on the power play and another on a delayed call in the third period, one more with Connor Hellebuyck on the bench. The Leafs had to expect an early storm and a big comeback from the fired-up Jets. 

Though the new-look first-unit power play — with the overdue appearance of Matthew Knies, plus Pacioretty and the return of Morgan Rielly — was scoreless, it helped warm up Pacioretty for a big opening period on the second line at 5-on-5. His long reach helped swat a one-handed pass across the crease to Tavares for the opening goal. It was NHL point No. 1,047 for Tavares, passing Henri Richard for 79th in NHL history.

Later, Pacioretty hopped on a Neil Pionk giveaway for a quick feed to an untouched Nylander, his first point in four games. 

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Berube had obviously grown tired of repeating the terrible, status quo, 10% power play was due and not seeing his faith rewarded. The Leafs are now 3-for-32 this year, while Tavares and Nylander were reunited at 5-on-5. 

“They’ve been successful in the past,” Berube noted Monday morning. “With Pacioretty there, a big winger that could score, (the Leafs) are just trying to find a little bit more scoring in some other lines.”  

The coach’s juggling act also saw him drop centre Max Domi and Bobby McMann to the third line with Pontus Holmberg, though they had a quiet game offensively. 

While the Jets had come back from various deficits in six of their eight wins, Knies scored in the opening minute of the middle period, his fourth in the past five games. It followed a familiar script at Canada Life Centre, the Leafs dumping, chasing and retrieving the puck. A few minutes later, Rielly sailed in from the point to take a Nylander pass for goals in consecutive games. 

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Connor, with two goals and two assists, kept the game close, but it was Pacioretty driving the net to help with Tavares’s second of the night to restore a three-goal lead in the second.

Berube didn’t hesitate coming back with Anthony Stolarz in net after the most recent loss, Saturday’s overtime setback in Boston. It was confirmation Stolarz has the net in big games for now, while Joseph Woll feels his way back from a lower-body injury. 

Berube ended his first 10 games with a record of 5-4-1, tying Pat Quinn and Pat Burns for the most victories in that span the past 30 years from the start of the season. The Leafs also ended the Jets’ attempt to tie a record with 10 wins to open a season, which Burns’ ‘93-94 teams jointly share with the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres.

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby 

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