‘Incredible’: Maple Leafs’ Nick Robertson wows but still scratching for a playoff role

TORONTO — A visitor stopped by Nick Robertson’s stall Saturday morning to chat before the Toronto Maple Leafs winger’s latest triumphant return from a healthy scratch.

Two beautiful snipes, including the winner, in a 5-0 beatdown at home over the inspiring but now fading Columbus Blue Jackets.

Hours before Robertson’s Hockey Night in Canada star turn, the 23-year-old was asked if he had been watching Friday night, when fellow shooter Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.

As hockey obsessed as he is, Robertson did not tune in to history. Truth is, he has decided not to watch his beloved sport these days.

“Not really, to be honest. I don’t mind watching. Like, I enjoy watching,” Robertson qualified. “But I just stay away because I’m around hockey all day for a living. 

“Especially, you go on there and you hear about (how) some other guys and other teams are doing. You start thinking about your team, thinking about your situation, and kind of getting in your head about it. So, I try to stay away from hockey away from the rink, and just kind of take advantage of the time where I’m not at the rink to decompress.”

It wasn’t always that way. Robertson would get squirrelly without skates on, his mind consumed with coming back from an injury or earning a call-up or showing his coach why he didn’t deserve his latest healthy scratch.

He’s found more balance, more peace of mind these days. To decompress, he’ll engage big brother Jason (if he’s off, too) in one of their epic Call of Duty battles. Or he’ll study the Bible. Maybe read or watch TV. Call up a friend or a family member to catch up. Anything but hockey. Like many of us, he’s trying to learn how to leave work at work.

But when it is time to punch the clock, particularly after a forced sabbatical, Robertson barges into the office refreshed and firing on all cylinders.

Which is what he did Saturday at Scotiabank Arena, ripping his first two shots clean past Elvis Merzlikins and making most of his game-low 10:09 ice time and fourth-line placement.

“Incredible,” marvels William Nylander, who scored twice himself. “I feel like it’s automatic — every time he rests and gets back in the lineup, he scores.”

Darn near. Robertson now has four goals and two assists in games returning from the press box this season. Our local radio host J.D. Bunkis has accurately bestowed Robertson with the nickname “Scratch-N-Score.”

“He’s been probably a little bit more motivated. Nobody likes to sit out, right?” coach Craig Berube says. “And when you get back in there, you’re a little bit more hungry. There’s no doubt about it.”

Said Morgan Rielly: “I thought he was outstanding.”

On nights like this one, you can nearly hear Robertson’s tummy growling, the way he doggedly hunts pucks on the forecheck; strains to find space to unleash his best attribute, what 44-goal man Nylander calls an “elite release” that fools goalies; and punctuates his red lamps with guttural yelps of joy.

“Feels great. I mean, you want to make an impact on the game, and obviously scoring a couple does that,” Robertson said, post-scratch and post-score. “Just gives me a reset. Gives me even more of that hunger to get back in and be effective and try to make the most of any opportunity I’m given. And I thought I did that tonight. It’s now my job to recover and prepare and continue the same mindset.”

Inside, burns a desire to play every single playoff game this time around, to become more reliable defensively, to land on the right side of a contentious and crowded roster bubble. (Maybe part of that guy who was so ticked off over being scratched in Game 7 of the Boston series lurks underneath, too.)

Outside is a player who politely says all the right things. That he wants to simplify his game. Use his feet. Be more physical. Disrupt plays in the D-zone.

That he’s thankful for any opportunity given. That being scratched means more hours in the gym. And that being surrounded by positive teammates, like fellow recent scratch Philippe Myers, keeps his spirits and motivation high for when called upon.

“He’s a very skilled player. Works extremely hard. So, for him to seamlessly step back into the lineup and score two important goals for us, kind of get us going, that’s huge for his confidence, I’m sure,” said goalie Anthony Stolarz, who’s been on the business end of many a Robertson laser.

“It’s quick. It’s heavy. I mean, you saw that five-hole move (on Merzlikins). I’ve seen that enough in practice this year. So, he knows where to shoot on goal. He knows his spot.”

What Robertson doesn’t know is if he’ll have a spot.

The only reason Berube dressed his seventh-highest goal scorer Saturday is because an injury to David Kämpf necessitated it. And still, despite his early game-breaking, Robertson was used less than any skater on either bench.

If Kämpf is healthy — or, heck, if Max Pacioretty gets the green light — will Robertson win over his coach enough, play heavy and responsible enough, to be a playoff fixture?

“Listen, the guy’s got great speed. Can score goals. Can shoot. I think he’s played good hockey for us this year,” said Berube, whose main concern is Robertson’s puck management.

“Being simple with it. Getting pucks out, getting pucks in. When he has the opportunity, he can use his speed very well and capitalizes on chances.” 

So often, though, those chances are preceded by a scratch.

Fox’s Fast Five

• Targeting Game 1 action, Stolarz pitched a shutout and secured his fifth straight win.

“I like to not be the typical goalie. You know, like, the weirdo,” he smiled post-game. “I like to hang out with all the guys off the ice. So, hopefully I don’t fit that stereotype. 

“But as soon as I suit up the pads, I just want to win. That’s all I care about. One of the main reasons I wanted to sign here. You look at the calibre of this team, and I thought I could help.”

• Chris Tanev broke Carl Gunnarsson’s single-season Maple Leafs shot-block record (176) by throwing his body in front of 179 pucks. (The NHL only began tracking the stat in 2005.)

“I did not know that,” Tanev said. “It is what is. I really don’t care.”

Berube says the fearless defenceman knows the value of blocks. Heck, it’s part of his identity, his longevity.

“He takes pride in that, and that’s why he’s able to do what he does,” Berube says. “You gotta be willing to want to do it, and he’s willing to get in front of anything.”

Still, Tanev’s record — achieved in just his 69th game as a Leaf — came as a surprise to teammates.

“No s—. Wow. It’s insane,” Max Domi says. “I mean, there’s not many guys that want to do that job, and there’s a reason he’s the best at it. He’s been doing it for a long, long time. The most selfless thing you can do is eat a puck for your teammates, so he does it better than anyone.

“We’re very lucky to have him. You see what he does on the PK and all that stuff, how hard he completes, plays through injuries, all that stuff you kind of wish you could have in a perfect hockey player. So, he’s awesome.”

Tanev ranks 16th all-time with 1,831 blocked shots in his career. 

• Matthew Knies is humming at peak confidence down the stretch. So much so, he attempted Michigan in full stride. Nearly pulled it off, too…

Knies registered an assist and led all skaters in shots (six) and hits (four) Saturday. 

“He’s playing playoff hockey, that’s for sure. How heavy he’s playing and skating and physical and just on top of things,” Berube says. “He’s been playing extremely well for the last couple weeks.”

• James van Riemsdyk, 35, returned to the Jackets lineup after four straight scratches.

Considering the respected forward didn’t sign his $900,000 deal with Columbus until Sept. 15 and is set to become a free agent again this summer, one wonders if Saturday marked the ex-Leaf’s final hurrah at Scotiabank Arena.

“It never gets old,” van Riemsdyk said. “I don’t know how many more times I’m going to get that chance to do this, so you definitely try and take it all in and be appreciative and grateful. It’s a special place and always a lot of fun to play here.”

The scoring winger played six seasons in Toronto from 2012 to 2018. The 1,075-game veteran hit career highs in points (62) and goals (36) as a Leaf.

“As I’ve gotten older, certain spots that mean a little bit more to you, you definitely really just soak that in,” van Riemsdyk continued. “Sometimes you can get lost in how special it is and how lucky we are to do what we do, but the more years you play, you realize how lucky you are and how great it is to be able to live out your dream.”

Super sophomore Adam Fantilli hails from nearby Nobleton, Ont. He grew up watching his left winger.

“I always remember waking up, putting on Sportsnet and seeing him take out the green mouthguard after scoring two or whatever he was doing,” Fantilli recalls. “Pretty special to see what he did in Toronto. It was cool to grow up watching. It’s a lot of fun to play on his line in a building like this.”

• Nice guy Steven Lorentz — who didn’t commit his first minor penalty as a Leaf until Game 45 — dropped the mitts with Sean Kuraly. A spirited, organic tilt by the 12th(!) different Toronto skater to fight this season. (Toronto is tied for the NHL lead in that category.)

“It’s situational, and I think it’s a demeanour thing within the group,” Rielly explains. “We care about one another. And when the time comes, you want to look after your teammates. And we have plenty of guys in here that are willing to do that.”

Adds Nylander: “We got some great grit on our team, and I think that’s needed in the playoffs. The guys have done a great job when they’ve fought, so it gets the guys going and shows that we’re ready to compete every night.”

Lorentz’s last fight took place three years and three teams ago, when he threw down with Jacob Trouba in the second round of the 2022 playoffs.

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