EDMONTON – The last player who should have been left uncovered at Rexall Place stood all alone at the side of the net. In one smooth motion, Phil Kessel went backhand-forehand with the puck and fired it into the top of the net.
Lights out.
That was it for the Edmonton Oilers. A night that saw them go stride for stride with the Toronto Maple Leafs during an entertaining first period of run-and-gun hockey had quickly devolved into the Kessel show, much to the delight of a boisterous crowd that featured plenty of support for the blue and white.
"That’s quick hands," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said after Tuesday’s 4-0 victory. "If you give him an open net, his eyes get a little bit wider."
Right now Kessel seems capable of just about anything. A four-point night against the Oilers brought his total to 10 over the last four games while moving him into second overall in the NHL’s scoring race – just two points back of Sidney Crosby.
It also played a major role in the Leafs scratching out another victory despite being outshot for a 10th straight game. These are the kind of individual performances that have allowed Toronto to consistently overcome inconsistent efforts during the first month of the season.
By all accounts, they probably shouldn’t be taking a 9-4-0 record into Wednesday’s game at Calgary. Toronto is currently leading the Eastern Conference and there’s not a player in the dressing room that believes the team has played anywhere close to its potential.
In short, they have simply been finding a way to get the job done, which is in sharp contrast to the scuffling 3-9-2 Oilers, who have looked like an improved squad this season but so far have absolutely nothing to show for it.
The feeling in Edmonton right now is awfully reminiscent of the one that was hovering over Toronto a couple years back. Fans and players alike seem to be thinking: "Not again?" There’s no way this collection of talented players could spend another year in the basement, is there?
As those around the Maple Leafs can attest, it took longer than anyone imagined to start developing enough quality prospects and acquiring enough veteran players to get things moving forward. Kessel is a prime example. At the same time he was finishing inside the top-10 in league scoring the last two years, the 26-year-old was also becoming a more all-around player for Carlyle.
The benefits of that were there for all to see on this night, where Kessel opened the scoring just 1:08 in, found linemate James van Riemsdyk on a 2-on-1, scored the gorgeous goal from the side of the net and then set up Nazem Kadri’s capper just for good measure.
The back-breaker was Kessel’s second goal to make it 3-0 – the one where he beat poor Richard Bachman with the kind of shot that Leafs goalie James Reimer is happy he only has to face in practice.
"The release, the speed, the quickness, the weight behind it – between him and (Alex) Ovechkin, it’s probably the harder wrist shot in the league," Reimer said after posting a 43-save shutout.
If things keep progressing like this, the Leafs top line might leave Carlyle with a tough choice. A lower-body injury to Tyler Bozak has opened the door for Kadri to jump between Kessel and van Riemsdyk and they’ve looked right at home together.
"If they produce it’s going to be hard to break them up," Carlyle said.
That’s a good problem to have – just as it’s been with both Reimer and Jonathan Bernier playing so well through 13 games. It has allowed Toronto to avoid any sort of losing streak and keep afloat during an injury-plagued month.
"Winning kind of covers all sins," Reimer said. "We’re getting to have to get it figured out here, we’re going to have to play better and play as a more complete team. Right now we’re finding ways to win and that’s buying us time."
Edmonton doesn’t currently have that luxury. After registering just three wins in October, there is a small sense of panic setting in. Perhaps when the Oilers step back from Tuesday’s loss they will find some sort of lesson in not beating themselves.
New coach Dallas Eakins had an insider’s view of how things went for the Toronto organization in recent years and sees some parallels. He’s remaining patient and keeping the faith.
"Our guys, I believe, they’re all in on this," Eakins said. "It’s just going to be a matter of time."
The time appears to be now for the Leafs, especially if they can find a way to tighten things up and keep building on a solid start. The expectations are on the rise in Toronto – Carlyle casually made a reference to "playoffs" in his post-game comments and can you imagine him doing that a year ago? – but there is plenty of work still to be done.
"We’re trying to take the next step," Carlyle said. "The next step’s a big one.