Escaping with Victory

Coaches talk about it all the time.

There are games you win for which you probably don't deserve the two points, and there are games you lose in which you outplay the opposition but just can't buy a break.

Coming off two games in which they were blown out at home - two losses that generated suspicion that their quick start was not a true indicator of their realistic potential to make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons - the Toronto Maple Leafs played a less than stellar game against the Blues in St. Louis Thursday night and yet lived to tell about it.

The Leafs escaped with a 3-2 victory.

If you're keeping score, that's consecutive wins in which the Maple Leafs were outplayed, dating back to last Thursday's victory in Columbus, after which Leafs coach Ron Wilson warned his players that they need to play better if they want to beat the NHL's better teams. The Leafs ignored his counsel in dropping a 7-0 loss to the Bruins Saturday and 5-1 loss to the Panthers three nights later.

All of which makes the victory over the Blues more of a relief than an indication that the tide has turned. In other words, nail-biting time is not over. Despite being out-shot 39-22, including 29-8 over the second and third periods, the Leafs received solid goaltending from rookie Ben Scrivens in defeating the Blues 3-2 in a shootout.

It was hardly a definitive victory for the Leafs, and yet getting the win wasn't the only positive Toronto will take away from the game despite the fact they were horribly outplayed over the final 40 minutes of regulation time.

If the Leafs are looking for positives, they can cling to a few as they try to find their identity.

A win by rookie Ben Scrivens is certainly one.

With starter James Reimer still injured, goaltending has become a huge concern for the Leafs as they draw back to the pack following their dream start. Both Jonas Gustavsson and Scrivens have enjoyed brief moments of glory, but neither has offered any indication he is ready to step up and provide the team with sure-fire goaltending over the long haul.

Scrivens looked shaky in the first period against the Blues, but played solidly the rest of the way, including during the shootout when he stoned ex-Leaf Alex Steen, T.J. Oshie and Matt D'Agostini to preserve the victory. At this stage of the game, Scrivens is not the answer, but a win is a win. You'd have to think, given the lack of confidence in Gustavsson, Scrivens would be the logical starter against the Ottawa Senators Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre.

No knock against Scrivens, but you'd also have to think the Leafs are inquiring about potential replacements for Reimer if he is to be out of action for much longer. There was a report from Reimer's agent that the netminder is close to returning to the ice "soon," but no precise timeline was given. Reimer practised with the team following the injury but was pulled off the ice because of recurring symptoms of what was described by Leafs management as whiplash. Reimer has a history of concussion problems.

The other positive for Toronto on Thursday was Phil Kessel.

The NHL's top point producer added to his league-leading goal total with his 12th in 16 games, and then scored the game-winner during the shootout. He doesn't get credit for that marker, but was nevertheless happy to deke to his forehand and slip the puck in around sprawling Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak.

Another bright light for the Maple Leafs was their much-maligned penalty-killing unit. Ranked 30th coming into the game - a sadly familiar place for the team under Coach Wilson - the Leafs killed off four of five St. Louis power plays. Despite Toronto's inability to keep the puck out of their net when they are shorthanded over the course of the season, the team's penalty kill has decidedly improved the past few games. They'll take a four-for-five effort any night of the week.

Despite their indifferent play thus far, there can't be too many among Leafs Nation disappointed with a 10-5-1 start. Where it goes from here, well, we'll just have to wait and see.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.