Slumping Tavares plans to do better job managing frustration

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild (optional) skated at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday. 

After missing a glorious chance from the slot in the second period of Tuesday's game in Columbus, John Tavares slammed his stick on the ice before heading to the bench. It was a rare show of negative emotion from the Leafs captain. 

"Sometimes it can be good to let it out but, obviously, other times you don't want to let it get in your way," Tavares said. "Important to manage that correctly and I still think I can do a better job putting [my] focus on that next shift and next opportunity knowing there's a lot of game to be played and lots of time to make a difference – and not just offensively."

"Frustration is a useless emotion," said coach Sheldon Keefe. "It's pretty prevalent in all our lives at different times, but it is a pretty useless emotion when we sit down and think about it. I talked with John, and he's experienced enough to know that that's not helping."

John Tavares is frustrated #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/N73h0k3HiS

Tavares has gone 10 games without a goal. It is his longest drought since going goalless over the final 11 games of the 2011-12 season. Tavares has gone 14 games without a five-on-five goal. 

But Tuesday appeared to be a step forward for the 31-year-old centre. Tavares registered five shots on net. He only had two shots in the previous four games. 

"A good job of being much better consistently, I think, just in all three zones and making better reads and trusting my instincts," Tavares said, "but also understanding the structure and executing that."

Keefe rewarded Tavares with more shifts. Tavares played just over 19 minutes against the Blue Jackets. He had played