Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said the team’s captain has seen his play dip in recent games. Tavares doesn’t plan to change to much about the way he plays.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said the team’s captain has seen his play dip in recent games. Tavares doesn’t plan to change to much about the way he plays.
ELMONT, N.Y. — Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares says a consistent approach will allow him to get his game back to the standard seen earlier in the season.
"It’s a long season and it’s a grind so there are times where things feel really good and really in rhythm and other times where you’re just trying to build your habits shift after shift," the captain said on Tuesday.
On Monday, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe explained splitting up the duo of Tavares and William Nylander ahead of their 5-4 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
"John and Will certainly haven’t played with the same results that they’ve had for most of the season," Keefe said. "They’ve cooled off here."
Tavares didn't make any excuses for his play as of late, but didn't necessarily see a problem with it, either.
"You’re always looking to pay better and play well. So you try to hold yourself to a high standard," Tavares said on Tuesday before the team's optional morning skate against the New York Islanders. "I don’t think things have been terrible, but certainly (I'm looking to be) continuing to improve my game and be relied upon in every situation in all three zones."
Keefe is looking to get more offense from his second line by reuniting the captain with Mitch Marner, with whom he spent much of the year with earlier in the season.
"What works in terms of it coming back is trusting your habits, trusting your abilities, we don't need to make it a bigger deal of it than it is," Keefe said of Tavares. "He's played lots with Mitch, I expect that line to really get going."
Tavares registered a pair of assists against the Senators on Saturday but the underlying stats showed a player to generate high-danger scoring chances over the last three games.
And for Tavares, he'll continue to keep it simple.
"I look to just try not to do too much," he said "I think it’s just making sure that I’m strong in all three zones and you’re above the puck play, you’re executing.
Tavares has 30 goals and 39 assists in 68 games this season.
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