Maple Leafs notes: Mark Giordano gets extended rest, Jets juiced for Toronto

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Mark Giordano’s all-star break might have started a week early.

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With coach Sheldon Keefe deciding to play Conor Timmins ahead of the 40-year-old warhorse defenceman a second game on Wednesday, the switch could hold through the Maple Leafs last pre-break game Saturday in the rematch with division-leading Winnipeg.

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“We’ve talked to him when we’ve sat him out,” Keefe said before the first of two versus the Jets. “Part of it is the rest factor (Sunday’s rare scratch in Seattle was the second of the Leafs’ back-to-back). It’s been a really busy month with (two) trips out West, all these types of things.

“It’s similar to our forward guys where you want to get some (fresh) guys in.”

Keefe has also brought up the lack of a right-handed shot that Timmins can bring to a proper right-left balance with the blueline pairs. Only Timothy Liljegren emulates Timmins on the starting six and the coach doesn’t want to take left-shooting Simon Benoit out to accommodate Giordano, the oldest player in the NHL at present.

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“We want to give a little more runway for righty-lefty,” Keefe added. “It has been a little while since (Timmins) has played consistently.”

BERT ON BABY WATCH

Winger Tyler Bertuzzi didn’t play Wednesday as he stayed with wife Ashley who is expecting the couple’s second child.

In a corresponding move, the Leafs moved Bertuzzi’s $5.5 million US salary to non-roster status to activate Ryan Reaves. Recovered from a kneecap injury that had placed him on injured reserve, Reaves has expressed a strong desire to return, but nonetheless remains on the outside, having not played since mid-December.

Nick Robertson, who took Bobby McMann’s spot on Sunday in Seattle and scored, remained in the lineup Wednesday.

WOLL CLOSER TO RETURN

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There were four goalies partaking in Toronto’s optional skate Wednesday morning, the most notable being Joseph Woll.

Kept apart from main practice the past couple of weeks as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain, he seems to be moving well, but Keefe put the brakes on any thought Woll will be ready to play when the break ends and Leafs host the Islanders Feb. 5.

The plan remains for him to work out in Toronto once the Leafs go to break phase and be re-assessed after joining full practice upon the team’s return.

FIRED UP JETS

The Winnipeg dressing room was full of enthusiasm for their lone Toronto stop and Saturday’s Hockey Night In Canada follow-up.

Many agreed with Keefe’s observation that the all-Canadian set-up in the North Division under COVID-19 protocols a few years ago created playoff-worthy intensity.

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“Absolutely,” said forward Kyle Connor. “You play a team 10 times, you’re going to get some bad blood. There’s obviously a little bit of rivalry between all the Canadian teams, especially this year.

“You want to be at the top of the standings for yourself, your city and your teammates. We take a lot of pride in that for sure.”

LOOSE LEAFS

Connor and Jets coach Rick Bowness will be back at Scotiabank Arena next weekend for the all-star game, along with goalie Connor Hellebuyck (who wasn’t scheduled to start Wednesday) … The 68-year-old Bowness, who began as an assistant with the original Jets in 1984, will be making his first appearance at the event … Bowness did not bring along his 1938 NHL all-star team ring on Wednesday. The bauble, which once belonged to Gordie Drillon, the last Leafs scoring champ that season, comes out now and then. It’s inherited from Rick’s father Bob, who played with Hockey Hall of Famer Drillon in New Brunswick. Rick says it will one day go to his grandson.

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