The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to take a 3-0 stranglehold on the defending Stanley Cup champions on Friday. The Leafs have been getting contributions from throughout the lineup, however, they need to find a way to get Bobby McMann going offensively.

McMann scored 20 goals in the regular season, showing off his blazing speed and accurate shot throughout the year, but unfortunately for the 28-year-old winger, he hasn’t been able to contribute on the scoresheet too much in the playoffs. He has just one assist in eight postseason games, playing 12:25 per game, seeing some time among the Maple Leafs’ middle six, and he hasn’t scored since March 25, a span of 19 games. If he’s able to come up with a timely goal as this second-round series against the Panthers continues, nobody’s going to remember this current dry spell.

It’s not for a lack of trying. McMann’s been engaged in the battle in other ways, including with his physicality. He ranks second on the team with 27 hits through eight playoff games, and while he’s certainly trying to do the little things to help the Leafs win, his ice time has decreased substantially entering Game 3 against the Panthers. For instance, McMann played almost 18 minutes in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators and saw just 9:42 of ice-time in Game 2 of the second round on Wednesday. Two of the main reasons – Max Pacioretty has been on a mission, and is getting second-line left-wing minutes, meanwhile, Scott Laughton, Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok have molded themselves into the Leafs’ checking line, and continue to get thrown out on the ice together to steer the momentum back into Toronto’s favor.

McMann’s battling his way through a learning curve right now. It’s his first true taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and while he’s certainly inexperienced on paper, his style of play makes me feel like it’s only a matter of time before he has ‘his moment’. McMann keeps his game simple. Yes, he’s likely squeezing the stick a little harder right now, but if he sticks to the little things and stays within his skillset, a timely goal could be around the corner. Play fast, pucks on net, and crash the net; good things will happen.

During the regular season, McMann finished the year averaging over 2.2 shots per game, and right now, after eight playoff games, he’s down to just 1.3 shots per game. While the time and space can be limited, especially against the Panthers, McMann needs to get himself in front of the net and do what he can to drive to the dirty areas of the ice.

With how hard McMann works on the ice, it’s only a matter of time before he’s rewarded, but it will be interesting to see how long of a leash Berube gives him with the playoffs progressing. Especially if the Leafs have issues finding the back of the net. Nick Robertson is chomping at the bit to get back into the lineup, and if Berube feels his group needs a lift, something that certainly isn’t the case right now, McMann won’t want to be the guy who hears his name called as a scratch.

For now, McMann’s going to be asked to play a checking role, to use his speed on the forecheck, and get in hard on the Panthers’ defence corps. While Pacioretty, the Leafs’ blueline, and the rest of the top-six are carrying the load offensively, if McMann can find a way to manufacture his ‘moment’, the Panthers and the rest of the remaining teams could be in deep, deep trouble.