The Toronto Maple Leafs want more from Bobby McMann going into Game 2 against the Ottawa Senators.
It’s been a quiet stretch for the 28-year-old forward, whose last goal came 13 games ago in Toronto’s 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Mar. 25. His production, though, hasn’t gone silent, with him having an assist on Morgan Rielly’s goal in Game 1.
As Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday morning, Toronto knows McMann can “provide” and “do” more. He’ll begin Game 2 alongside Max Domi and Nick Robertson, a line that’s been successful in the past.
“He’s getting his attempts at the net. I think there’s times where I’m not sure the attempt is worth it. I think I’d like to see him delay a little bit or hang on to pucks a little bit more,” Berube said.
“He needs to get on the inside; that’s going to be key for us with him. He could be an effective player with his speed, body strength, size. We need him to get on the forecheck. We need him to get to the inside and the interior of the ice. He did a good job on the goal; that’s the interior of the ice I’m talking about.”
It’s a good sign that McMann got on the scoresheet in Game 1, which some forget was his first-ever NHL playoff game. He understands what the pace of play and physicality will be like now, and he’s looking forward to helping his team more.
“Guys are closing quicker, definitely more physical, you saw that early on,” McMann said Tuesday morning. “People are really trying to make an impact early on, so it’s just being ready to weather that and being ready to manage it the whole game.”
McMann had 20 goals in the regular season through 74 games, the sixth-most among Maple Leafs, behind William Nylander, John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Mitch Marner.
Toronto will need McMann’s scoring touch at some point in the playoffs. It could come in Tuesday’s Game 2 or the games after that. The positive is that the power forward knows he has to be better.
And he says he will be as the series goes on.
“I can always push for more. That’s definitely what I want to do,” McMann said.
“I think right now, the biggest focus is just winning games and doing what I can to contribute. If I’m not scoring, I’m trying to be physical, trying to be hard to play against, those sorts of things.”
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