Simon Benoit jokes he lost $100 bet to Jake McCabe over who would score first this season

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe scored in Saturday’s win over the Boston Bruins, the first goal from a Leafs blueliner since November 30th.

Toronto went through December without a goal from the back end, which raised concerns about the defensive unit’s lack of offence production and cries for reinforcements. McCabe’s goal was the eighth goal scored by any Leafs defenceman and the team is tied with the Ottawa Senators for the fewest goals scored by defencemen this season. 

Simon Benoit joked with reporters Sunday morning that he and McCabe had a wager going on for who would be the first to end the drought.

“Me and Jake had a running bet going on, first to score got $100. I just lost $100,” Benoit said. “On that note, when we can contribute it’s always fun you know? We know we have, especially me, I have a stay-at-home job right? I just need to focus on not getting scored on for sure. So when we can contribute on that part offensively it’s always fun.”

The lack of production wasn’t due to a lack of effort: McCabe, Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson generated scoring chances and entered the rush, but it didn’t lead to actual goals. While the Leafs’ back end certainly enjoys contributing to the scoresheet, they aren’t concerned about the lack of production lately because their focus is more on keeping the puck out of its net as much as possible.

“We’re not worried about scoring goals in the back end. We’re worried about winning hockey games, and that’s keeping the puck out of our net,” McCabe said after Saturday’s game. “You keep the goals against down in this league, and we got enough guys in this room that can score. So, obviously, it’s nice to contribute when we do, but that’s not our priority.”

Each of the last five Stanley Cup winners had at least three defencemen score multiple goals during their respective runs, so the Leafs will almost certainly need the same level of production if they wish to go deep into spring.

Head coach Craig Berube is not losing sleep over this because he is working with his staff to keep the defence involved in the play and it is only a matter of time before the goals come in bunches.

“I don’t look at it as a concern. I think we always try to [figure out] what we can do better to score with our D,” Berube said after Saturday’s victory over the Bruins. “We are trying to activate them a little bit more. They have been in the play more on rushes and things like that. In the offensive zone tonight I thought our D too did a really good job of activating to the backdoor. Caber scored, and we missed two other ones. We had a couple of good looks there.”

Toronto will resume its schedule Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers, where the goal drought from the blue line is a thing of the past.