Maple Leafs look better, but still lose to get swept on road trip

It was the first day of a long winter — and what’s shaping up as a short spring for the Maple Leafs.

A strong effort under back-to-back circumstances against a rested powerhouse Dallas team still resulted in a 5-1 double empty-net goal loss and a winless three-game road trip. Toronto is still near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with six points and several teams still separating it from a playoff spot.

While it’s getting past the stage of moral victories, it was for the most part the best night of the trip, despite the final score, with one pre-Christmas game to go Tuesday at home versus Pittsburgh.

Right after Sam Steel finally added to the Stars’ 1-0 lead in a tight affair, Scott Laughton scored after a penalty kill, only to have Jamie Benn tip in an insurance marker and Mavrik Bourque add a freebie.

Toronto played a decent first period, part of out-shooting the Stars 28-19, but came up empty on the first of four power plays, slipping to four for its past 44, and gave up a late goal to Jason Robertson. Thus far dominated by brother Nick in head-to-head matches, Jason got away with mugging Jake McCabe as both tracked a high dump-in, getting to the puck first to beat a surprised Dennis Hildeby.

For coach Craig Berube, scrutinized for recent systems failure in both concept and execution, his team followed the simple pre-game script he gave media in Dallas.

“Manage the puck and manage the game, shift length, what you’re doing with the puck while changing.”

He also acknowledged the disconnect that has dogged the team through December and in what’s now four losses in five games.

“These guys want to do well and want to win. As a coach you get upset, disappointed and do different things, but at the same time you have to teach these guys, keep working with them and try to inspire some confidence.

“There are times things just start to click and you can get on a roll.”

The Leafs’ competitive edge extended to the video booth where coaching assistants Jordan Bean and Sam Kim used Berube’s timely time out to double-check Roope Hintz was a sliver offside to reverse a middle period goal.

CAPTAIN’S LOG

If looking for captain Auston Matthews to say something – anything – in the fire and brimstone manner, it’s unlikely to be seen or heard, at least publicly. It’s just not in the DNA of this particular ‘C’, which would not be an issue if he wasn’t so off his dominant offensive game, for nagging injury or other reasons, or the team so low in the standings.

Matthews, with 23 points in 30 games, insisted after Saturday’s letdown loss in Nashville, to one of the few teams possibly more fragile than themselves, he saw positives.

“Mentally we’re fine. As crappy as it is losing, I thought the process was better, we had good energy all night. Even though you’re leaving the rink upset, not getting any (team) points, I think the process we had throughout is something that we can move forward with.”

While those comments didn’t play too well in impatient Leafs Nation, on Sunday Matthews did walk the walk after talking about getting more shots through for second and third chances, not the “one and done” that has perpetuated late.

His quick stick poke check led to a breakaway, though the excellent Jake Oettinger and his mitt stayed with his deke. Matthews also breathed life into a second-period power play with some deft moves to get into shooting position, only for his stick to snap. At the end of the day, nothing on the trip for him or other big names.

Even Mats Sundin, who endured the worst times of any modern Leaf captain in his later years, would now and then let his frustration about his own sub-par game or the team’s boil over in front of cameras.

In picking Matthews two years ago to succeed John Tavares, who also prefers to lead by example than by post-game oratory, the Leafs knew what they were getting. But through one injury-plagued season and this unproductive half year, Matthews, other than still eating pucks on blocked shots, has been unable to lift the team consistently in deeds or words.

“You have to grind through it,” Matthews insisted. “I’ve been through it before and learned to work out of it. Pick guys up in the room. I know they have my back, too. That (chatter) part of the game, the room can’t lack.”

Yet he seems as baffled as anyone why much the same make-up, other than Mitch Marner, finds its nine-year run of post-season qualifying in jeopardy.

THROW THEM A LIFELINE

Coach Craig Berube has often used the word ‘reset’ when scratching a player, but it can’t be easy for those he moved in and out of the lineup to different positions and in some cases not given them time to adjust to new roles or linemates.

As expected, he activated Max Domi and Steven Lorentz in Dallas after they sat in Nashville. It’s the second time this month he has made Domi a notable scratch, but coming out of the lineup Sunday along with Calle Jarnkrok was Easton Cowan.

A sage observation was made on Hockey Night In Canada Saturday that Cowan had proven he was NHL-ready with examples of his on-ice vision and some top six and power play minutes. But Berube used that ‘R’ word with Cowan, that he needed to sit and watch more video.

The coach said it was a difficult decision to put youthful exuberance in the seats, but said he was concerned about giveaways and some lack of physicality on Cowan’s part. If so, certainly Cowan is not the only offender of late.

Lhornby@postmedia.com

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