Maple Leafs take first strides under Horachek

Todd Richards had a feeling it was going be a tough night for his Columbus Blue Jackets. This was long before the puck was even dropped.

It had been three years to the day since he took over the Blue Jackets on an interim basis and Richards believed that his old friend, Peter Horachek, was bound to enjoy the same blissful honeymoon benefits with the Toronto Maple Leafs that he did back then.

“It’s easier (for him) right now,” said Richards. “I believe it is because you’ve got their attention. This is when I think you can get your message through and then it’s always about results.

“It’s easy to coach when you’re winning hockey games.”

Those proved to be prophetic words.

The Leafs didn’t just register a confidence-boosting 5-2 victory over Columbus on Friday night; they proved a little something to themselves in the process.

This was the kind of complete defensive performance that they couldn’t summon very often during Randy Carlyle’s tenure here. What was most impressive is how committed the players remained to pressuring the puck even after jumping ahead 4-1 in the first period.

“I think that’s been one of our faults this year is when we have leads like that, we sit back,” said veteran winger Daniel Winnik. “But I thought we did a great job of just taking it to them. They always say when you’re in the offensive zone, it’s tough for them to score some goals.”

By the end of the night, Columbus had managed just 20 shots — the second-lowest total by a Leafs opponent all season.

That it came in Horachek’s second game behind the bench brought a small glimmer of hope to a group burdened by recent losses. The new coach doesn’t need to be a miracle worker, but he’s trying to change the mood while demonstrating a willingness to shake things up.

Richard Panik was elevated into the top-six forward group — he played alongside Nazem Kadri and a highly motivated James van Riemsdyk — while Winnik assumed a spot with Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak.

Those combinations are meant to offer a better balance of offence and defence and likely arrive in concert with the analytics folks in the front office. Beyond that, the assistant-turned-interim head coach is trying to draw a more focused and consistent effort from one of the NHL’s most combustible teams.

“I feel like there was definite buy-in and definite positive attitude,” said Horachek, wearing the military hoodie given to the team’s top performer in a victory. “You could feel like they wanted to engage in a positive direction.”

This has been a period of reflection for the Maple Leafs.

In the wake of Carlyle’s firing, president Brendan Shanahan came into the dressing room and addressed the players on Friday morning. There’s a feeling among the veterans here that it’s now or never for this group to get it together.

“It’s time to become consistent and it’s time to grow up in here,” said defenceman Cody Franson, who had two assists against Columbus. “(We need) to take that next step in terms of maturing and becoming consistent. (In the past) we’d take that step — we’d get going the way we want to go for a little bit — and then for some reason we’ve taken that step back.

“It’s time to grow up and continually take steps forward.”

No one seemed to be getting too carried away about a win over Columbus, which had been red-hot entering the night. With the Leafs now embarking on a four-game road swing that will take them through California and St. Louis, there was a pretty good understanding that it’s only going to get tougher from here.

However, keeping their composure after allowing a goal to Ryan Johansen on the first Columbus shot and making life relatively easy for goaltender Jonathan Bernier from there on out was something to be proud of.

“We’re trying to get to that point where our coaches don’t have to say anything,” said Franson. “That’s when you start becoming successful and that’s when you know guys are really buying in. Tonight’s definitely a step in that direction.”

The message from the new boss has been fairly simple so far.

Horachek preaches a pressure game that is difficult to maintain throughout an entire night. The players are supposed to be moving constantly in all three zones and avoid getting passive.

“When you come into a situation (like this) there’s something that needs to change,” said Horachek. “Whether it’s attitude adjustments or whatever it is, something always has to be adjusted. To get everybody on the same page.

“We like to call it culture — change the culture and change the philosophy and the thought process.”

Richards played under Horachek for six seasons with the IHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, winning a Turner Cup in 2001. He also began his coaching career as an assistant on Horachek’s staff in Milwaukee.

The Blue Jackets are trying to climb back into the Eastern Conference’s wild-card playoff race and their coach believes they’ll have a tougher time passing Toronto with Horachek at the helm.

“He’s a good person and a great coach,” said Richards. “I know he’ll come in and he’ll make a difference to that group.”

A win like this one at least offers a place to start.