When everyone is healthy on the Maple Leafs blue line, it seems like a regular rotation.



Connor Carrick out, Roman Polak in. Roman Polak out, Connor Carrick in.



But after the opening two months, the reality is Polak has become more of a staple in the lineup, anchoring that third pair. He’s played in 47 of Toronto’s last 56 games and earned plaudits from coach Mike Babcock all along the way.



It’s to the point that it’s basically a lock he’ll be playing when the playoffs start next week in Tampa or Boston.



That commitment to Polak has driven the numbers crowd crazy, mainly because his analytics don’t measure up to Carrick’s.



Carrick’s score-adjusted Corsi, for example, is 54.2 per cent. Polak’s is 48.6 per cent. At 5-on-5, the Leafs have outscored the opposition 30-22 with Carrick on the ice and have been outscored 31-29 with Polak on the ice.



Scoring chance percentage? 57.4 to...