'I Was Channelling My Inner Timmy Brent': Steven Lorentz Believes Shot-Blocking Mentality Will Translate To Success For Maple Leafs In Playoffs

Steven Lorentz blocked several shots in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-0 shutout win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Toronto had an impressive all-around performance on Wednesday for a team battling injuries at the near quarter-point of the year. They were physical, made good on their chances, and put their bodies on the line to block shots.

Lorentz, especially, did so, blocking four shots from Vegas, two of which came one after another.

"Yeah, three times. Two on the same shift. I was channelling my inner Timmy Brent there with a few blocks," Lorentz said on Thursday, after a skills development session.

"But yeah, no, it definitely didn't feel too good, but it's always worth it when the guys come through and get a big 3-0 win and a shutout for (Joseph Woll) Woller. It was just a good team effort all around."

Lorentz is referring to former Maple Leafs forward Tim Brent, who blocked three shots back-to-back-to-back while killing a 5-on-3 penalty during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 3, 2011.

It ended with Brent diving to clear the puck out. Funny enough, that game also ended 3-0 for Toronto.

After his shutout win on Wednesday, Woll admitted that he appreciated Lorentz's shot-blocking ability against the Golden Knights.

"Might owe him dinner or something," the goaltender said with a smile.

Lorentz was surprised on Thursday when he was told Woll said that.

"Really? He said that? Oh, nice. All right. OK," Lorentz said with a grin. "I'm going to have to take him up on that."

Lorentz heard the bench, and the crowd inside Scotiabank Arena, after he put his body on the line to block a few shots. He stopped four pucks from getting to the net, tying a season-high he set against the LA Kings in October.

The 28-year-old, though, doesn't do it for the applause. He blocks shots "so you can win games," which he says will translate to wins later in the year.

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"Again, it's the little things that you do for your team. You do it so you can win games. But you don't do it for the cheers and the applause, but definitely, I could hear the crowd reaction a little bit," the forward said.

"It's nice to see that they have my back and recognize stuff like that. Again, those are the little things that, when every guy's doing that, that's what takes you further and further into the playoffs. And, you know, that's winning hockey."