Maple Leafs must be better to close out Avalanche in rematch

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A TV network ad was hyping Wednesday’s Maple Leafs-Avalanche game as a big tussle between Stanley Cup contenders, their second meeting in less than two weeks.

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Perhaps the home team needs to get its house in more order before such talk, having given up five straight goals to Colorado after victory was in sight at Denver on March 8, part of losing five of its past seven games.

Colorado actually has won a Cup in recent memory, too, while these Leafs are still working to get beyond the second round.

So, coach Craig Berube was at his loudest during Tuesday’s practice, not easing up after a 6-2 pasting of Calgary. His voice carried even louder than usual around Scotiabank Arena when drills went askew, with a big section glass taken out to accommodate the annual team picture.

“More discipline for sure,” Berube told the media later when asked what must change in the rematch. “Not putting them on the power play … that’s a hard kill.”

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Mitch Marner was trying to take the puck deep on a solo rush with five minutes to play that night and stumbled into the fateful minor, the only call on Toronto that night but one that Nathan MacKinnon converted.

“Colorado’s a very good team, they play a fast, direct game,” Berube forewarned. “We have to be on our toes, checking well, staying in front of them, winning battles in our zone and exiting.”

That defeat was the Leafs debut of newly acquired defenceman Brandon Carlo and centre Scott Laughton, after a cross-country flight from Boston and Philadelphia, respectively.

“Talk about being thrown into hot water,” Carlo recalled. “Now I’m trying to implement myself with the guys. Everyone’s been so kind, each day’s gotten a little better not feeling so out of place. It has been long days, but now having my daughter and family be here and being able to walk around town with them.

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“Little things, like coming into the room and having music after warmups, it’s fun, a different type of energy. I haven’t needed much coffee, I’m just buzzing off all the excitement of being here.”

Carlo had his first assist on Saturday against Ottawa and a couple of key shot blocks Monday versus the Flames.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been trying not to get too far ahead of myself. That’s when I know I’m playing my best hockey.

“Colorado has a lot of speed and skill and, as a defenceman growing up, I wanted to play against the top guys. They have a couple on their team (MacKinnon and Cale Makar for starters).”

The Calgary win was just the second for Carlo and Laughton in new blue togs.

“It was big for confidence,” Laughton said. “We had a good start, put pucks on net and recovered them. The key is simplicity this time of year when everyone’s clawing at trying to get in (playoffs).

“We need to do the same things against a really high-speed team, making them play in their own zone and tire them out. Our team is more than capable of doing that.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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