McLegend | FEATURE

Every year during the Stanley Cup playoffs, a player seems to emerge when the stakes are their highest to deliver for their team.

"That's what the playoffs are all about," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "There's that unsung hero, a guy that will score that big goal. What a goal by Michael."

Michael would be Devils forward Michael McLeod. And the goal Ruff was referencing was McLeod's shorthanded tally to open the scoring in a winner-take-all Game 7 against the New York Rangers in the First Round.

McLeod was on the ice in the waning seconds of a 4-on-4 that gave way to a Rangers power play. During the play, forward Ondrej Palat hounded New York's Adam Fox and Chris Kreider, stealing the puck on the boards. He found McLeod cutting to the net.

McLeod caught the puck at the crease and deked former Vezina-winning goaltender Igor Shesterkin to the ice. McLeod then pulled the puck around on his backhand and threw it into the net beyond Shesterkin's outstretched leg pad.

The goal broke a scoreless game halfway through the second period. What's more, the goal held up to be the game- and series-winner, helping the Devils advance to the Second Round.

"It looked like a Mike McLeod goal from last year," Ruff said. "He would cut in, hang onto it, their goalie sold out. Maybe other players would have tried to shoot it, he hung on and put it into the empty net. I'm happy for him."

Ruff wasn't the only one happy for him. McLeod was mobbed by his teammates at the glass.

But McLeod was just getting that started. That goal has sparked an active four-game scoring streak which has seen him score two goals, both shorthanded, and post four points. The culmination of that streak was his second shorthanded tally in yet another critical situation.

The Devils were in a proverbial must-win Game 3 showdown with Carolina in the Second Round, trying to avoid a 3-0 deficit. The Devils built a 2-0 lead but were forced to kill a penalty, giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to get back in the game.

Then the opposite happened.

Off the opening man-advantage faceoff, McLeod flipped the puck past future Hall of Famer Brent Burns. He regained possession with Jesper Fast quickly backtracking. McLeod used his speed to gain an angle on Fast and to the net. He cut around Fast, put his head down and barreled toward the goal, scoring to make it a 3-0 game and all but sealing New Jersey's win in a crucial contest.

Just another big goal from an unsung playoff hero.

"It was just a PK goal. I just took it to the net and went five-hole," McLeod said. "It's nice to get on the board. It's nice to skate with the puck, especially on the PK. It's nice to get a shorthanded goal, too."

McLeod picked up assists in both Games 1 (Nathan Bastian) and 2 (Miles Wood). His line with Bastian and Wood was arguably the team's best in the opening two contests. They played with speed, won the majority of their puck battles and established offensive zone time.

"We're just keeping it simple and playing hard," McLeod said, "trying to win pucks back on the forecheck and create off the cycle."

In many ways, McLeod is built for playoff hockey. The physically assertive 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward plays a straight-line game with speed and tenacity.

His skating ability allows him to be a force in open ice and on puck retrievals in the offensive zone. McLeod's physical play and strength allows him to be a force on the forecheck. And McLeod's determination allows him to be a force in all facets of the game.

"I like playing in the playoffs with the speed. It's a simpler game," McLeod said. "You have to get on pucks. It's more about winning your battles and playing the right way. It's a lot of fun. It's what you live for, playing in the playoffs."

Nowhere is McLeod's determination more demonstrative than in the faceoff circle. He ranked third in the NHL (behind only Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews) with a 60.6-winning percentage.

What's most impressive is that McLeod, at 25 years of age, is the only player in the top-10 under the age of 30. Typically, the league's best faceoff men are older with a lot of veteran experience.

So, how has McLeod achieved such a stature in the league at such a young age? Sheer will.

"I think his will and determination in the faceoff dot is No. 1," Ruff said. "It doesn't matter where the faceoff is or whether there are two seconds left in the period or 18 minutes left in the period, he's there to win a faceoff. He approaches every faceoff like that. He's ready to win them on both sides of the ice. He can switch hands. I think he's work really hard on his craft."

During the 2020-21 season, McLeod won 51.5-percent of his draws. And he knew that it was an area of his game on which he wanted to concentrate.

"It's something I wanted to get good at. A couple years ago I noticed it was one of my strengths," McLeod said. "I just wanted to get better at it every day. We work at it after practice. It's a nice skill to have. Get out there more, help your team win those D zone draws and getting the puck out."

McLeod works with assistant coach Chris Taylor on faceoff following every single practice. And he doesn't go easy on his teammates during the practice session.

"We don't like losing to him," forward Dawson Mercer laughed. "We're trying to get better, but he puts up a good fight every time."

Mercer has seen those same qualities translate from the practice sheet to the game sheet for McLeod.

"He's so determined to win it. He has that strong stick, gets low on it," Mercer said. "If it's a 50-50 puck, Mikey is getting it. He's been doing that all year. He's proven that he's a top guy in the league for that."

McLeod has improved in the circle every year that he's been in the league from 50 (2019-20) to 51.5 ('20-21) to 57.3 ('21-22) to his current 60.6 ('22-23).

"You have to be strong, strong bottom hand," McLeod said. "Getting low and knowing who you're going up against, it changes if you're going against a lefty or righty. It's having a couple different strategies on how to win them."

The Devils coaching staff have recognized what a weapon McLeod is in the faceoff dot. The team employs him to take every key draw during a game.

If it's a defensive draw while trying to maintain a late lead: McLeod. If it's an offensive zone draw while trying to score late in a game: McLoed. If it's overtime and the club wants to start with possession: McLeod.

"He takes a lot of pride in his faceoffs. Michael has been an important piece, taking key draws," Ruff said. "We all know if you start with the puck, you have a better chance of trying to create something or defend something."

Whether the team has needed an important faceoff win, a solid penalty effort or a shift to create some energy, McLeod has been the guy. Now, you can add some clutch playoff goals to the list.

"He had great legs, hanging onto pucks, creating opportunities," Ruff said. "Michael has played well. He's used his speed and is not afraid to handle the puck in traffic.

"Not only taking big draws most of the night, to score goals, for him to get a big goal is incredible for the team."