News Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Berube says Leafs played ‘extremely well’ in Game 4, expects response, very impressed with Knies, Nylander

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube met with reporters over Zoom on Sunday afternoon following his team’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 4.

Berube didn’t appear to be too concerned about the process, and the Maple Leafs will be ready with a response on Tuesday, as the series shifts back to Scotiabank Arena. Toronto was presented with a golden opportunity in overtime to sweep the series as Ottawa’s Drake Batherson was assessed a four-minute double minor for high-sticking Chris Tanev, but it was all for naught.

“There’s a lot of good in that game,” Berube said. “I thought it was a real good hockey game to be honest with you, and I thought we played extremely well. There’s always things you can improve upon. Finishing, there are some opportunities where we could’ve finished on the power play. We had a couple of good opportunities. We had that four-minute power play, I think we could’ve generated more off of it, be a little more direct on the PP in that situation. Overall, like I said last night, it was a good hockey game, I thought we played well. Didn’t come out on top, but we’ll move on from that and get ready for practice and get ready for Game 5.”

Toronto is the more experienced side and have been the better team in the series, so it’s little surprise Berube is expecting a strong response entering Game 5.

“They’ve done a great job of that throughout the season for sure,” Berube said of his team’s leadership group, highlighted by captain Auston Matthews. “There’s up and downs throughout the season. Our guys have responded well. The leadership has really grown here. And that’s the key, the leadership and our leaders leading the way. I expect the same in Game 5. We played a real good hockey game, we didn’t come out on top. Our guys will be ready to go, it will be highly competitive for Game 5. The leadership has been very good and that’s the key. I don’t expect anything different.”

Berube was also asked about Matthew Knies and William Nylander, and was highly impressed with both players who form the Core Five — the Core Four may be outdated after Knies’ breakout campaign.

“Willy and I have a great relationship. It’s very open. Willy comes to me when he’s concerned about things, or things that are bothering him which is great. They’re open conversations, and I think that’s really healthy. It’s good for me and it’s good for him. Willy’s a competitor. He loves to score goals, we know that. You look at the game last night as the game got ramped up, he got ramped up. I thought he was highly competitive in the game and he did a lot of great things. I know he made a lot of great plays and goals, but with the puck battles and the second and third effort he showed in the game last night was exceptional.”

Craig Berube on Matthew Knies: He keeps impressing me and along with everyone in the organization. He's a very competitive player, with a ton of talent but it's his effort that drives him in my opinion.

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) April 27, 2025

There’s no reason for the Maple Leafs to be particularly concerned entering Game 5 and Berube knows his team’s experience and true talent level will rise the occasion, in a closeout game on home ice.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ber...e-4-expects-response-impressed-knies-nylander

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

The Core Four needs to elevate in Game 5: Leafs Morning Take

After playing every other night for the first four games of the series, the Battle of Ontario takes a back seat to the Federal Election on this Monday.

Instead, the Leafs will host the Senators on Tuesday night for Game 5 as they take their second crack at trying to eliminate their provincial rivals.

Even though they lost on Saturday night in Game 4 via a Jake Sanderson OT winner, the Leafs played well enough to win. Considering what we’ve seen in the past from this team, that’s a good sign that – once again – this team is different.

Speaking of which, we kicked off the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take by addressing some news and notes from Leafs practice. Most importantly, Auston Matthews wasn’t on the ice. Per Leafs PR, it was for rest purposes. Gulp. Seriously, it’s hard to not overreact to that. Joseph Woll didn’t skate either because “he’s under the weather.”

Additionally, we discussed all the goaltending issues in Round 1. There’s been a plethora of injuries – including Frederik Andersen – and some poor play, too. See Connor Hellebuyck and Stuart Skinner. As expected, it’s been a chaotic start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs —in general. Weirdly, the Battle of Ontario has been relatively quiet from a news standpoint.

At any rate, brought to you by RVezy, we looked back at Game 4. Once again, the Leafs were one shot away from icing the series. They had their chances. Matthews hit the post in OT and Toronto failed to score on their four-minute power play. Furthermore, Ottawa deserves credit for the way they played. For the first time in the series, Linus Ullmark outplayed Anthony Stolarz, too. We talked a lot about the Core Four. Any way you slice it, they need to elevate and bring this team to Round 2. On top of that, discipline will continue to play a role. Max Domi took a dumb penalty on Saturday and the Sens made the Leafs pay for it. In general, though, Toronto should feel really good with where they’re at right now. Of the 15 goals they’ve scored in the series, five have come from the blue line —which you love to see. All in all, the team just needs one more big effort to solidify the series victory.

To wrap, we got to the CRISPI HOT TAKE OF THE DAY, presented by the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer. Producer Vick thinks Joseph Woll should start Game 5. Interesting stuff. Unsurprisingly, we both disagreed with that sentiment.

Carter Hutton will sub in for Jay Rosehill on the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM ET for a full preview of Game 5. Additionally, the one and only Bruce Boudreau will drop by to weigh in on the series.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/the-core-four-needs-elevate-game-5-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube on Artem Zub’s hit on John Tavares: ‘Looked like a head shot to me’

The Battle of Ontario has earned its name through four games so far, delivering on its promise of a physical series on both ends of the ice. With that being said, it’s raised some questions on the officiating and how discipline is being administered between the two teams.

In Game 4, the Toronto Maple Leafs caught heat for failing to capitalize on a four-minute power play in overtime before the Ottawa Senators sealed it later in the period. That man advantage came without special teams veteran John Tavares, who missed a solid chunk of overtime after taking an elbow to the head from Artem Zub.

Here’s a look at that play:

alright, standard set pic.twitter.com/xRKrSqtnHA

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 27, 2025

While there was concern when he left the bench that there may be a serious injury at play, he returned later in the period. Tavares confirmed Monday that he was removed by a concussion spotter, but was given the all clear. Zub did not receive a penalty on the play, nor did the league follow up with any additional discipline, much to the dismay of Toronto head coach Craig Berube, who was firm in his assessment of the play.

“I don’t like the hit,” Berube said, speaking after practice Monday morning. “Puck’s nowhere near him. Looked like a headshot to me.”

Berube’s comments come amidst league-wide criticism of the playoff officiating, with dirty plays going unpunished, like Ridly Greig’s cross-check on Tavares earlier in the series, while the league clamps down on minute instances of what they deem unsportsmanlike conduct. While heavy physicality is a given in the playoffs, there has to be consistency with discipline for cheap shots like Zub’s elbow to Tavares, especially with crucial games on the line. Allowing this kind of play to go undisciplined sets a dangerous precedent for the series going forward, especially with the Senators playing in desperation mode down 3-1.

So with Berube stating his frustration with what he sees as a missed call, it sets the stage for the Game 5 showdown scheduled for Tuesday night from Scotiabank Arena. Toronto’s head coach has made his displeasure clear, and there’s no doubt his roster will be ready to come out with a response of their own.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-artem-zub-hit-john-tavares-looked-like-head-shot

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Bruce Boudreau predicts a Maple Leafs victory in Game 5 of the Battle of Ontario: Leafs Morning Take

Bottom line: It’s time for the Maple Leafs to take care of business and punch their ticket to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Carter Hutton was in for Jay Rosehill as we offered up an all-encompassing Game 5 preview on the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take.

Due to the Federal Election, the two teams got an extra day off, which in the long run, probably benefits both sides. Any way you slice it, the Leafs need to show all the wisdom they’ve gathered from all those learning lessons over the years. Tonight’s all about killer instinct.

With that in mind, thanks to GRETA BAR YYZ, Bruce Boudreau made another appearance on the show. The legend weighed in on Matthews’ ‘rest’ day, Toronto’s 3-1 series lead, and what the Leafs need to do to put Ottawa away. Additionally, he dished on the Cour Four’s play, Matthew Knies’ evolution as a player, and how he would handle the crease moving forward. For the record, Gabby’s feeling very confident about this team entering tonight’s festivities.

Of course, Jake Sanderson was the OT hero back in Game 4 on Saturday night. That came after Auston Matthews hit a post and the Leafs failed to score on a four minute power play. The Leafs played good enough to win that game. In fact, they were excellent for most of it. If they play that way tonight, they will be in good standing. Furthermore, it will be fascinating the document the crease battle. For the most part, Anthony Stolarz has grossly outplayed Linus Ullmark. No lineup changes are expected for the Maple Leafs, which means no Nick Robertson once again. All in all, special teams and discipline could end up being the determining factor in this one.

Jay Rosehill will be back in the mix for the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM for a full recap of Game 5. We’ll either be looking ahead to a Game 6 or discussing Toronto’s second series victory in 21 years. Go Leafs Go!

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/bru...5-of-the-battle-of-ontario-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews takes responsibility for Senators’ short-handed goal in Game 5 loss: ‘That’s on me’

Tuesday was a night to forget for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Ottawa Senators sit just one game behind the Leafs in the Battle of Ontario, after silencing Scotiabank Arena with a 4-0 win over Toronto on Tuesday. The series now shifts back to the nation’s capital where the Senators have a chance to even it up.

Speaking to media post-game, captain Auston Matthews addressed the team’s loss.

“I thought the execution at times wasn’t there,” Matthews said. “Obviously they get the first goal and we were just kind of chasing the game from there. I thought we did good things, but in the end there’s little plays, executions, the small details. They made good on their chances and here we are.”

The story of this series has been the special teams, and that was certainly the case on Tuesday when Toronto’s power play once again failed to produce. Not only that, but an unforced error on the man advantage from Matthews led to a short-handed goal for the Senators – their second in the last two games. After the game, Matthews took full responsibility for the turnover.

“I just tried to find Mitchy up top and I thought we kind of drew them in. I didn’t see the guy there and he obviously picked it off. That’s on me, I gotta make a better play,” Matthews said.

DYLAN COZENS PUTS THE SENS UP 2-0

: Sportsnet | #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/S1oD08f4tR

— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) April 30, 2025

No doubt they need to be better, as the smallest mistakes rarely go unpunished in the playoffs, and the Leafs are seeing that first hand. But it’s tough for a Toronto group that was clicking on the power play to start the series, with five goals through the first three games, and now none in their last two. To put it in even worse context, the Maple Leafs are now goalless in their last 30 power play opportunities in potential series-clinching games. Not a good look, and Matthews spoke about what they need to do to get back on track.

“I think we just gotta get back to simplicity,” Matthews said. “Outnumbering guys at the net, getting some pucks through and going from there. I thought we had good looks in the first one or two, some good chances, then I thought we just kind of got away from that.”

It was hardly anyone’s best performance on the Leafs Tuesday, as the team failed to land on the scoresheet for the first time this postseason. But Matthews in particular hasn’t looked quite like himself recently. Despite claims that he’s feeling fine, many suspect he may still be dealing with a lingering upper-body injury that kept him out of play a number of times this year.

Nevertheless, the Leafs will have to trudge on, and Matthews said they’re ready what’s next.

“We’ve been a good road team all season, I don’t think there’s any panic in this room,” the captain said. “We’re not looking in the rearview mirror, it’s about the next day, the next game … We’re a confident group in here, we gotta put this one behind us and learn from it.”

Toronto will now head to Ottawa with another chance to clinch the series on Thursday.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/aus...-short-handed-goal-in-game-5-loss-thats-on-me

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs practice notes: Pacioretty moved to Tavares-Nylander line ahead of Game 6 vs. Senators

It’s the most important game of the year for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and head coach Craig Berube shuffled the lines ahead of Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators.

Max Pacioretty will be joining John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line, while Pontus Holmberg shifts down as the third-line centre, with Bobby McMann and Max Domi on the wings. Holmberg previously occupied the second-line left wing slot alongside Tavares and Nylander throughout the series.

Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander were the Maple Leafs’ third-most commonly-used unit during the regular season, with a plus-three goal differential and a 48.5 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5, via Natural Stat Trick.

My preferred option would've been McMann-Tavares-Nylander, but this is a group Berube trusts. Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander were Leafs' 3rd-most commonly used unit at 5-on-5 (172:37) with plus-3 (11-8) goal differential, -6 shot differential (85-91) and 48.5 xG% (@NatStatTrick) https://t.co/eTnkvsPnq7

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) May 1, 2025

Pacioretty entered the lineup for Game 3 in place of Nick Robertson and hasn’t looked back, but he hasn’t found the scoresheet in three games. The 36-year-old is valued for his physicality, but it’s possible he could be dropped further down in the lineup if Berube is forced to make some in-game adjustments against the Senators.

“I just didn’t feel that we needed that right now. There’s a lot to like in our game the way it’s going,” Berube said, when asked why Robertson remains out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game.

Berube hasn’t made any changes to the defence corps, and Anthony Stolarz will start for the sixth consecutive game. Stolarz has posted an .899 save percentage in five games and was stellar through the early parts of the series. Joseph Woll will be the backup and though he was strong throughout the regular season, Berube hasn’t seriously considered going away from Stolarz ahead of Thursday’s game.

“Business-like, let’s go. We’re ready to go. Business. Let’s go,” Berube said during Thursday’s media availability via The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.

It doesn’t appear that the Senators will be making any changes to their lineup from Game 5.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Senators​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander

Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Max Domi

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev

Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)

Joseph Woll

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...-tavares-nylander-line-game-6-ottawa-senators

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

William Nylander was nearly ineligible to play in Game 6 due to lineup error

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander had a major role in securing his team’s place in the second round, but it almost did not happen due to a lineup mistake.

“It could have been disastrous for Toronto.”@FriedgeHNIC and the panel discuss a lineup mistake switching the Nylander brothers, which could have led to William Nylander being removed from the game. pic.twitter.com/8hGQPu0qTG

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 2, 2025

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during the first intermission of Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators that the lineup card had Alex Nylander listed instead of William. An official noticed the mistake before the game started, so that allowed the Leafs to insert the correct Nylander in the main roster as was intended. This was made possible by Rule 5.1, which states that the Leafs would also not be penalized for it.

“ Well, they’re on the sheet there. It’s like, you know, your normal names are up there every game,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters after the game about what happened. “But you call guys up, they’re all on there, and I got confused. So I’m like, ‘What the hell?’  And so I told the officials, ‘It’s Willie, not Alex.”

Had the mistake not been caught in time, Nylander would have been kicked out of the game and the Leafs would have been forced to play with only 11 forwards. They would not be assessed a penalty right away, but it would have put them in a massive hole early being without one of their star forwards for a critical game.

This isn’t the first time Berube and the coaching staff nearly had a lineup error prove costly. Before a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on December 2, Auston Matthews was accidentally put in the starting lineup when Fraser Minten was intended to be slotted between Steven Lorentz and Nick Robertson. In this instance, they would have been assessed a penalty had it been caught by the officials. Matthews went out to take the draw so the Leafs could abide by the rules before quickly returning to the bench to restore order.

“It’s on the computer. So these computers screw everything up,” Berube said with a laugh about the December 2nd incident. “That’s why I used to write them out, you know, on paper. I’d rather do that.”

Good thing the mistake was caught in time because Nylander ended up having an exceptional performance in a close-out game. He led the Leafs in scoring with three points, including a critical goal early in the second period and an empty-netter to seal the deal.

It’s worth noting that the reason Alex was on the roster to begin with was that the Leafs recently called up 14 players from the Marlies to be part of the reserve team for the remainder of the playoffs. This was because the AHL squad was eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Monsters, and the players brought up are on NHL contracts so they were eligible to be part of the Black Aces squad.

“ I heard about it after the game, but yeah. Luckily, somebody caught that,” Nylander said.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/william-nylander-nearly-ineligible-game-6-lineup-error

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Wendel Clark says growth from Ottawa series key to Leafs’ success vs. Florida: Leafs Morning Take

For the second time in 21 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs are off to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It wasn’t pretty but they got the job done.

Obviously, we were very jacked up to start the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. All in all, it was a hard-fought six game series. Ottawa’s a very good team, but without question, they’re not the Florida Panthers. Round 2 is going to be an all-out war. It’s going to be difficult, uncomfortable, and fierce. It’s time to see what this Leafs team is really made of.

Brought to you by RVezy, we recapped the 4-2 Game 6 victory. Celebrating his 29th birthday, William Nylander tallied two goals and an assist. Meantime, Auston Matthews kicked off the scoring in the first period with a PP tally. Additionally, Max Pacioretty scored the game winner. In fact, it was the fourth career series clinching goal for the former Montreal Canadiens captain. On top of that, Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves —including plenty of big-time stops in the third period. And so, the Leafs are now 2-13 in potential series clinching games since 2017. Much better. Baby steps.

After that, courtesy Charm Diamond Centres, Maple Leafs legend Wendel Clark dropped by the show. We got his thoughts on the series victory, the Core Four making a significant impact on the series clinching win, and Matthew Knies’ evolution as a player. Additionally, we talked new school vs. old school. Wendel joked that he just wants everyone to have fun. Ha ha!

Through the podcast, we began to preview the Leafs/Panthers series, which is expected to get going on Monday night in Toronto. The PR battle between Craig Berube and Paul Maurice will be a fascinating one —that’s for sure. Furthermore, we think the Leafs need to relish the underdog role in the series. It’s going to be tough, but indisputably, this team is good enough to achieve anything.

To wrap, we got to the CRISPI HOT TAKE OF THE DAY, presented by the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer. Producer Vick called Chris Tanev the most important player on the Leafs.

At any rate, we’re going to kick back, enjoy the weekend, and get set for Round 2. Join us on Monday at 11 AM ET as we preview Game 1.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/wen...o-leafs-success-vs-florida-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs-Senators superlatives: Who was the MVP of the Battle of Ontario?

Now that the Toronto Maple Leafs seized the Battle of Ontario, we can get into some first-round superlatives. William Nylander led an authoritative performance from the Core Four in Game 6, scoring twice on his 29th birthday, Max Pacioretty notched the series winner, while Auston Matthews put the Leafs on the board with a well-placed shot in the first period.

The real reward is advancing to the second round, although the defending champion Florida Panthers will pose a very difficult test. That’s tomorrow’s problem! We’re going to hand out a few awards of our own from the Battle of Ontario, as the Ottawa Senators were a difficult out through six games.

Series MVP: Anthony Stolarz​

There were several players in consideration for this award, including Nylander and Chris Tanev, who perhaps best embodies Craig Berube’s philosophy on the ice, but this award is going to Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz was outstanding through the Maple Leafs’ first three wins, shook off his two worst games of the series, and was once again stellar in Game 6. The 31-year-old saved 3.1 goals above expected at 5-on-5 via MoneyPuck, and for all the discussion about shot differential, and the quality of shots throughout the series, Stolarz’s steady excellence was the primary reason why the Maple Leafs could afford to win with a counterattacking style.

Stolarz entered the postseason on fire, and he’s provided the Leafs with a level of superior goaltending they haven’t received during the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era. Joseph Woll is an outstanding backup option during the playoffs, but it’s Stolarz’s crease until proven otherwise, and he was terrific in round one.

Goal of the series: Max Domi’s Game 2 overtime winner​

Once again, there were several candidates for this superlative. Simon Benoit’s point shot that eluded Linus Ullmark in Game 3 was in contention. Mitch Marner’s quick-strike assist to set up Auston Matthews in Game 3 can certainly go into the Art Gallery of Ontario. Given the context of the series, and what was at stake, we’re giving this one to Max Domi’s overtime winner in Game 2.

Benoit picked off an errant pass from Drake Batherson and raced up the ice, before dropping the puck to Domi, continuing his drive to the net. Domi then created some magic, cutting around Batherson and Dylan Cozens, before pinging a shot off the post and in, to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead. It was Domi’s finest moment with the Maple Leafs, and it changed the tenor of the series entirely — it’s difficult to imagine how the series may have played out, entering Kanata tied up at a game apiece.

MAX DOMI IS A TORONTO MAPLE LEAF!!!!!!!

: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/nQWHTEX0FT

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) April 23, 2025

Best adjustment: Pacioretty joins the Tavares-Nylander line​

Craig Berube thoroughly out-coached Travis Green throughout the series, in part due to his ability to make clever adjustments throughout the series. He may have saved his best amendment for last. Max Pacioretty was bumped up to the second line for Game 6, alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. There were some skeptics, myself included, but Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander was the Maple Leafs’ third-most commonly-used unit at 5-on-5 during the regular season and continuity certainly mattered.

Pacioretty was reinserted into the lineup for Game 3, taking Nick Robertson’s place. His physicality and positional versatility were certainly valued by Berube. But for large stretches of Game 6, it appeared that Berube’s affinity for Pacioretty may have been at the team’s detriment. Berube put the lines into a blender again, and it paid off. Pacioretty was paired with Max Domi and Pontus Holmberg, and after Domi emerged from a board battle with the puck, the veteran forward fired home the series winner, eluding Linus Ullmark from the inner slot.

It’ll be compelling to see whether Berube places Pacioretty on the second line to start against a physical Panthers side, that will try to intimidate the Maple Leafs during every shift. Pacioretty’s flexibility worked for the Leafs at the right time, and he scored arguably the biggest goal of his decorated career in the process.

Unsung hero: Simon Benoit​

Simon Benoit’s game reached an inflection point in March, and he’s never looked back since. You need unsung heroes and depth performances to make a sustained playoff run. Benoit played the best hockey of his career throughout the series, and showed up time and again throughout the series.

We already went over Benoit’s contributions in the ‘best goal’ section, but his rush up the ice to set up Max Domi’s overtime winner in Game 2 was arguably the turning point. Benoit entered the series as Toronto’s sixth defenceman, and aside from Chris Tanev, you could make an argument that he was his team’s best defenceman against Ottawa.

Benoit’s overtime winner in Game 3 may have propelled him into household name status in parts of the Greater Toronto Area. He deflated an electric crowd at the Canadian Tire Centre, and he upped his game once again with an excellent performance in Game 6. It didn’t show up on the scoresheet but Benoit cut off Senators forwards at the point of attack without giving up position. Benoit is in the form of his life, and if he continues to play like this, it will go a long way against the defending champs.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...a-senators-superlatives-mvp-battle-of-ontario

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Berube expects Leafs to be more disciplined, physical with sole focus on Panthers

Winning a playoff round is difficult and should be celebrated as such, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have larger goals ahead and will face their toughest opponent of the past decade.

Toronto squares off against the defending champion Florida Panthers in round two, with Game 1 slated for Monday night. Florida is arguably the best defensive team of its generation, led by Selke finalists Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, Vezina-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and a nearly impenetrable system engineered by head coach Paul Maurice. It will be vitally important for the Leafs to keep their cool against a Panthers team that has excelled at agitating their opponents, en route to two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

“Emotion plays a big part of the game,” Berube said following Saturday’s optional practice via Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. “We all know that. Discipline and composure, we got through one round, and it has to be more elevated now.”

And it was an emotional first round, after all. Toronto dispatched Ottawa in six games, surrendering a 3-0 series lead, before fighting back to win Game 6, with William Nylander and Auston Matthews raising their level in a closeout match. It’s all behind them now, after the team took a day off Friday. Florida previously eliminated Toronto in the second round during the 2023 playoffs.

“I don’t know about satisfied,” Berube said. “We’re happy we won, you’re supposed to be happy you won. It’s not easy to win a series, and the guys should be happy they won the series, but now we’ve moved on and we have to get prepared for Florida.”

Widely considered to be one of the most compelling second-round series, the Leafs may be able to draw on some intelligence from previous years. Toronto signed Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Steven Lorentz this summer, all of whom coming off a Stanley Cup victory with Florida. Ekman-Larsson logged major minutes as a No. 5 defenceman, Lorentz chipped in on the fourth line, while Stolarz backed up Bobrovsky throughout the run and is presented with an opportunity to beat one of his prior mentors.

Toronto is now tasked with advancing to the conference final for the first time since 2002, and it will take its best effort, along with heightened discipline against a Florida team that is looking to win back-to-back titles, with a suppressive defensive style.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ber...e-disciplined-physical-focus-florida-panthers

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews looking for redemption against Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky

If the Toronto Maple Leafs stand any chance to take down the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, their best players will need to be their best players. It starts and finishes with captain Auston Matthews, who will need to figure out a way to solve Panthers’ netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.

Back in 2023, the Panthers had Matthews’ number in the playoffs, and it was one of the main factors the Leafs were eliminated in five games. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, and Bobrovsky led the way against Toronto’s best goal scorer, and the collective effort will be something Matthews will have to overcome starting Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.

The Panthers smothered Matthews in their second-round series two years ago, and Bobrovsky stood tall throughout each of the five games. The only game the Leafs won, Mitch Marner and William Nylander scored, and while it’s going to take a collective effort to beat the champs, something Toronto has managed so far these playoffs, Matthews has to produce better results this time around.

Ice-Time	Goals	Assists	Points	Shots	Hits	Blocks
Game 1	24:13	0	1	1	6	2	0
Game 2	25:22	0	1	1	6	4	0
Game 3	20:22	0	0	0	2	3	3
Game 4	20:37	0	0	0	4	1	3
Game 5	29:38	0	0	0	8	9	5

Generating 26 shots and no goals, it was a tough time for Matthews, especially with the Leafs losing three one-goal games. This season he’ll need to take a step forward, to help lead the Leafs past the defending champs. There’s no doubt about it, Matthews solving Bobrovsky will be a huge factor in this series. The good news: the captain’s support system has improved, and this is a different team he’s leading than two years ago.

Matthew Knies’ development will have a huge influence on Matthews’ production. The Maple Leafs’ best power forward has a chance to be the x-factor in this series, using his big frame to get in front of Bobrovsky’s eyes, allowing for Matthews, and his elite shot to do the rest. Another big factor in Matthews production could be the power play. The Leafs have shown a great sense of urgency this postseason, getting shots on net early and often, and had tremendous success against the Ottawa Senators, capitalizing on 35.3 percent of their man advantages. The Panthers were the most undisciplined team in the league during the regular season and if emotions get high, especially with Brad Marchand in the mix this time around, it could work into the Maple Leafs’ favour. It will be a battle within the battle though, as the Panthers did a great job of shutting down the Tampa Bay Lightning’s power play in the first round, allowing just two goals on 18 chances.

Barkov, Bennett, Marchand, Reinhart, among others will try to limit Matthews and the top line for the Maple Leafs. While it’s going a full team effort to be able to take a giant step forward against Florida, Toronto stands no chance at being competitive in this series if Matthews doesn’t find the back of the net. The Leafs’ captain had his entire tool box on display against the Senators throughout their six games, something head coach Craig Berube praised, stating Matthews led the way for the Leafs with his all-around effort.

Throughout his career against the Panthers in the regular season, Matthews has had some success, collecting 15 goals in 29 games. But, this isn’t regular season hockey, the stakes are as high as they’ve ever been, and he’ll need to learn from his experience in 2023, and find a way to break through.

Matthews has a stronger supporting cast this time around, especially with Knies and his net-front presence. Look for these two to work off each other, and disrupt Bobrovsky in tight, and now we wait and see if the results change this time around.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-looking-redemption-panthers-sergei-bobrovsky

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs Practice Notes: Marner misses practice due to birth of baby boy, Stolarz projected Game 1 starter

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner was unavailable for Sunday’s practice, welcoming the arrival of a baby boy earlier in the morning.

Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed the arrival of a baby boy this morning. Marner will not participate in today’s practice.

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) May 4, 2025

Stephanie Marner first posted the news that the couple was expecting their first child back in February on Instagram. Given that this comes a day before Marner’s birthday along with the fact that he led his team past the Ottawa Senators in the first round, it has no doubt been a birthday weekend he will never forget.

Nick Robertson filled in for the star winger on the top line alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, suggesting that Marner should still be good to play in Game 1. All of which is to say his reasoning for not participating in practice is more than justified. Congratulations to the Marner family!

Head coach Craig Berube slotted Max Domi down the middle of the third line with Pontus Holmberg moving to the right wing. This is likely to do with the fact that Domi has been the more effective of the two at taking draws.

Beyond that, the Leafs made no further changes and are sticking with the same lineup that clinched the series in Game 6 on Thursday. It means that Max Pacioretty will get another crack at it after scoring the series-winner late in the third period, where he was back to slotting on the wings alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. This also strongly suggests that Anthony Stolarz is the projected starter in Game 1, though it really should not come as a surprise as Berube tends to stick with one goalie unless he has no choice but to make a switch.

Here is how the lines looked at practice, courtesy of TSN’s Mark Masters:

Forwards

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Nick Robertson*

Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander

Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Pontus Holmberg

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Defence

Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Goalies

Anthony Stolarz

Joseph Woll

Extras

David Kampf, Philippe Myers, Jani Hakanpaa, Dennis Hildeby

Absent

Mitch Marner

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...e-birth-baby-stolarz-projected-game-1-starter

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Report: Anthony Stolarz leaves arena on stretcher following injury in Game 1

The Toronto Maple Leafs emerged victorious in Game 1 after defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 on home ice, but it didn’t come without a potentially big blow to the Leafs’ roster.

Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz left the game during the second period after taking an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Although he remained in the game briefly, he reportedly got sick on the bench just before a Leafs power play and left the game in favour of Joseph Woll. Not much has been made available by the team regarding Stolarz’s health, but it was reported by The Nation Network’s Jay Rosehill that he left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher while the third period was going on.

Bennett catches Stolarz in the head pic.twitter.com/AorFonA398

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Anthony Stolarz was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during the third period of tonight's game, per sources.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 6, 2025

Woll stopped 17 of 20 shots after entering the game, and despite a couple of goals he would probably like back, some slack must be granted. He hadn’t played since April 17 and his first taste of action since then was the middle of a playoff game against the NHL’s defending Stanley Cup Champions. He made enough stops to secure them the victory, and with a Game 1 win in the books for the Leafs, the attention will now shift to Stolarz’s health.

Stolarz entered Monday night’s game with a 2.21 goals-against average (GAA) and a .901 save percentage (SV%), ironically, identical stats to those of Sergei Bobrovsky in Round 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He stopped eight of nine shots before the injury happened.

Head coach Craig Berube was not thrilled about the fact that Bennett didn’t receive a penalty on the play, making his thoughts clear when speaking to the media postgame.

Craig Berube on Sam Bennett’s hit on Anthony Stolarz: Elbow to the head. Clearly. Clearly. Clearly.

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) May 6, 2025

Game 2 is set to go on Wednesday night in Toronto, and once there’s a clearer update on Stolarz’s health, the team will await any potential discipline coming from the league. It’s unknown if anything will come of the incident, but priority number one for the team at this point is the health and well-being of their starting goaltender.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-anthony-stolarz-leaves-arena-stretcher-injury-game-1

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Jay Rosehill doesn’t think Sam Bennett crossed the line: Leafs Morning Take

Well, that’s a lot to unpack.

Any way you slice it, the Leafs grabbed a 1-0 series lead in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Jay Rosehill and I were on location at GRETA BAR YYZ for the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Naturally, we kicked of the show by talking Sam Bennett. Rosey thinks he did nothing wrong, I vehemently disagreed. Honestly, it was a show-long debate. You give a player like Sam Bennett an inch, he’s going to take a mile. How does Max Domi get a cross-checking penalty in the first period for doing NOTHING and Bennett skates away scot-free? Make it make sense!

After we got exhausted talking about that, we did talk about the actual hockey game itself. All in all, that was a picture-perfect start for Craig Berube’s bunch. Yes, things got a tad hairy, but at the end of the day, they found a way to win the game. Unfortunately, all the conversation is about the Bennett/Stolarz situation and not the fact that Toronto was able to give Florida a dose of its own medicine in Game 1. William Nylander led the way with two goals and an assist. Additionally, the Leafs got two more goals from their blue line and are now up to seven in seven playoff games. Meantime, we thought Joseph Woll was shaky in relief, but in the long, it’s hard to blame him for that. We’ll see what happens moving forward – because the Leafs haven’t ruled Stolarz out for Game 2 – but they will need Woll to play better. That goes without saying. On top of that, Bobby McMann had a solid outing, so did Max Pacioretty. Bottom line: The Leafs are finding different ways to win. Meantime, as expected, discipline was a big story —clearly. Toronto’s power play looked awful going 0-for-5 and will need substantial adjustments moving forward. At the end of the day, they won the game, and that’s the most important aspect to draw.

Meantime, for the CRISPI HOT TAKE OF THE DAY, presented by the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer, Producer Vick brought the heat yet again stating that he thinks Joseph Woll will lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Stanley Cup Final. Hot damn.

Be sure to join us on the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take for a full preview of Game 2 as the Leafs look to grab a 2-0 series lead. Also, Ray Ferraro will drop by the show once again.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/jay...m-bennett-crossed-the-line-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

NHL betting preview (May 7): Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 2 predictions

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to stretch their series lead to two games when they host the Florida Panthers for Game 2 Wednesday evening at Scotiabank Arena.

Despite earning a well-deserved win in the series opener on Monday, the Leafs are larger underdogs in Game 2 than they were in Game 1, as they will be forced to pivot to Joseph Woll in goal, while Aaron Ekblad will return to play, having completed his two-game suspension.

I’ll detail the relevant game notes and outline my favourite betting angles below.

Panthers vs Maple Leafs Game 2 Odds​

• Panthers Moneyline Odds: -139
• Maple Leafs Moneyline Odds: +118
• Puck Line Odds: Panthers -1.5 (+180), Maple Leafs +1.5 (-102)
• Game Total: 5.5 goals (over -118, under -120)

Regular Season Stats	Panthers	Maple Leafs
Goals For per 60 minutes (5-on-5)	2.32 (22nd)	2.66 (8th)
Goals Against per 60 (5-on-5)	2.09 (4th)	2.01 (3rd)
Expected Goals per 60 (5-on-5)	2.76 (6th)	2.66 (8th)
Expected Goals Against per 60 (5-on-5)	2.44 (2nd)	2.57 (16th)
High-Danger Scoring Chances % (5-on-5)	53.16 (7th)	50.65% (15th)
Goal Differential	+29 (10th)	+37 (8th)
Power Play %	23.5% (13th)	24.8% (9th)
Penalty Kill %	80.7% (10th)	77.9% (17th)
Save Percentage (Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Anthony Stolarz)	.906	.926
Goals Saved Above Expectation (Bobrovsky vs. Stolarz)	+7.2	+25.8

Florida Panthers​

The Panthers were on their heels early in Game 1, after William Nylander was able to beat Sergei Bobrovsky on the Leafs’ first shot of the game. Nylander then doubled down after an uncharacteristic breakdown by the Panthers defensively left the Leafs’ leading goalscorer with all day in the slot.

Throughout the entirety of the game, the Leafs held a 3.38 to 2.51 edge in expected goal share and did not offer as many true defensive collapses as the Panthers did. Florida was able to stir things up physically but it played a looser game defensively than we have become accustomed to seeing during Paul Maurice’s tenure as head coach.

While Ekblad has had somewhat of a down year overall, his return will boost the upside of a defense corps that was exposed to some extent in the series opener. Ekblad skated on the top pairing alongside Gustav Forsling, dropping Seth Jones down to the second pair alongside Niko Mikkola.

The Panthers lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year versus the Boston Bruins and were able to respond with a 6-1 victory in Game 2. There will surely be no panic from Maurice’s group after going down 1-0, and it’s no surprise to hear him preaching the need to author a sharper defensive performance in tonight’s matchup.

Bobrovsky now holds a -0.1 GSAx rating this postseason with an .887 save percentage. By no means was he the team’s greatest problem in Game 1, as only one of the goals against arguably should’ve been stopped, and his pedigree suggests allowing four goals against in Game 1 may not be anything worth reading too much into.

Toronto Maple Leafs​

While it would be preferable to have seen the Leafs play a slightly tighter third period overall, their Game 1 performance was quite strong and should instill confidence that they can generate offense versus a Panthers side that was dominant defensively during their Stanley Cup run last season.

Toronto’s top two offensive lines were entirely dominant in Game 1 and deserve plenty of credit, especially as when the Leafs lose, they are always the ones wearing all the blame.

All three members of Toronto’s top line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Matthew Knies finished with +2 ratings, and the trio held a 62% expected goal share at even strength, despite spending plenty of time against Aleksander Barkov’s line. They combined for three points where it counts, including Matthew Knies’ game-winning goal.

The team’s second line of William Nylander, John Tavares and Max Pacioretty was also highly effective, combining for five points and combining for a +7 rating.

through 7 playoff games, with TOR's Big 5 off the ice at 5v5, NatStat has TOR with a 38% xG share, 28% HD shot share, and -3 by goal differential. Last 3 Cup winners all had positive goal diffs from the bot-6: COL (+6), VGK (+11), FLA (+3)

— Michael Clifford (@SlimCliffy) May 6, 2025

The Leafs’ bottom two units did not fare overly well in Game 1, as has generally been the case throughout this postseason. It’s a well covered point that the Leafs’ top offensive stars need to be better in the playoffs for the team to finally find success, but as Michael Clifford notes in this tweet, recent Cup winners all had bottom sixes that played to positive goal differentials during their respective championship runs.

Woll will start in this matchup, as Anthony Stolarz has been ruled out after a controversial collision with Sam Bennett. Woll had a tremendous regular season with a +16.8 GSAx and .909 save percentage, and the Leafs will certainly feel confident that they can still have success if Stolarz misses several games. Woll also posted a +4.3 GSAx and .964 save percentage last postseason.

Best Bets for Panthers vs Leafs Game 2​

The Panthers are certainly capable of authoring a better performance than we saw in Game 1, but considering the betting prices, my lean would still be with the Leafs in terms of a side.

Toronto has finally enjoyed seeing all of its ultra-talented stars play at an elite level this postseason, and it could author another strong offensive performance in this matchup as a result. The top two lines generated plenty of chances at even strength in Game 1, but it also wouldn’t be surprising to see the top power play unit chip in some offense after failing to break through in the series opener.

The Leafs have been solid defensively this postseason, but far from entirely dominant. Woll has the potential to play at the level we saw from Stolarz at his best, but it could be a difficult game to be thrust into after making somewhat of a shaky return to action on Monday.

At -118 I see value backing this game to feature over 5.5 goals, as this looks to be a good spot to expect both offences to contribute to the low total.

Best Bet: Over 5.5 Goals -118 (Sports Interaction, Play to -125)

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/nhl...nthers-toronto-maple-leafs-game-2-predictions

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Dallas Eakins raves about Berube, Nylander, & Toronto’s postseason growth: Leafs Morning Take

That’s how you take care of business on home ice.

Mitch Marner scored the game winner as the Leafs edged the Panthers 4-3 to grab a 2-0 series lead in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Unbelievably, this is the first time in 21 years that the Leafs have won six games in a postseason.

Despite the early start time, we were jacked up to kick off the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take as once again, we were live on location at GRETA BAR YYZ. For what it’s worth, the Leafs are 11-0 all-time in best-of-7 series when taking a 2-0 lead on home ice. That said, there’s no doubt the Panthers will show some fight as the scene now shifts to Sunrise for Game 3 and 4.

At any rate, we jumped into the full game recap. Max Pacioretty and Max Domi each notched a goal and an assist. Toronto played a team game. Simply put, they’re getting contributions up and down the lineup right now. Additionally, William Nylander scored again. He’s on fire, and quite frankly, we could be witnessing his postseason coming out party. The guy’s been incredible. Also, Joseph Woll made 25 stops. For us, it was the timeliness of his saves. The one on Mackie Samoskevich in the third period was the big one. Meantime, Toronto’s power play went 1-for-3, it’s now 1-for-8 in the series. Over and above all that, we gave some love for the crowd. They were great.

After that, brought to you by Charm Diamond Centres, Rosey’s former coach and current head coach/GM of Adler Mannheim Dallas Eakins stopped by the program. He raved about the job Berube’s done with this bunch. Most importantly, the biggest thing that has stood out for him is that Toronto’s playing with identity, passion, and purpose. Having said all that, Eakins still predicts a long series. He thinks it could go the distance. We shall see.

Be sure to join us for the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. We will preview Game 3 and Brandon Montour will drop by the show, too. As an aside, Rosey will be back home in Alberta, I’ll be LIVE on location from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/dal...-toronto-postseason-growth-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Former Panther Brandon Montour says Florida will be ready to respond in Game 3

Things aren’t looking too bad for the Toronto Maple Leafs right now.

Up 2-0 over the Florida Panthers, it’s the first time they’ve won both opening matches in the second round since 1987. Now with the series shifting back to Sunrise for Game 3 Friday night, the Leafs will look to keep up the momentum and try to steal a win or two on the road.

But by no means is Florida going to make that easy.

Ahead of Game 3 on Friday, Brandon Montour joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take. A member of the Panthers organization through their back-to-back Stanley Cup finals appearances, including their victory last season, Montour is all too familiar with the resilience this group has shown, warning that Florida will be ready for the challenge Friday.

“I know that building is gonna be rocking,” Montour said. “[Maurice] is gonna go in and have a crazy speech that’s gonna get those guys jacked up. The experience too, they’ve been there, they’ve had many games in this situation. We were down against Boston 3-1, so I know that room is not nervous, more excited about the challenge and opportunity of coming in and getting wins at home.”

Asked about what the Panthers will bring from the jump, his answer was simple, though the Ontario native noted that Toronto knows how to give it right back.

“Energy, I think they’re gonna wanna play with pace, get on the forecheck, that’s huge for them,” Montour said. “But that’s a thing I think Toronto has done well, doing the same thing back to them and making it hard on them.”

Expanding on how the Leafs have seen success so far this series, Montour credited their “brand of playoff hockey” that they’ve built, giving kudos to head coach Craig Berube as a driving force behind bringing that in. Now a member of the Seattle Kraken, Montour missed both games against the Leafs this season, but regardless said it’s clear that Toronto has a stacked group this year.

“Look up and down their roster, obviously they’re deeper,” Montour said. “Defensively they’ve picked up a couple of pieces that are huge, protecting the net, bigger. Obviously up front, the depth’s huge. You’ve got your big guys who are scoring big goals, but you also need four lines, good matchups. A dangerous thing we had in Florida is we could play all four lines, all six D, no matter who was out there … I think Toronto has more of that this year.”

The Maple Leafs will look to bring all that and more tonight, as the Florida Panthers are sure to come out aggressive on home ice for Game 3. You can watch Montour’s full interview on Leafs Morning Take below.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/former-panther-brandon-montour-ready-respond-game-3

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Brad Marchand says Panthers expected tough Game 3 vs. Maple Leafs: ‘They’ve got that killer instinct now’

The Toronto Maple Leafs fell 5-4 to the Florida Panthers in overtime in what was as riveting a playoff game as you can get, especially between two teams like these. In what was a game full of weird bounces, including an own goal from Morgan Rielly which he then parlayed into a game-tying goal off of Florida’s Seth Jones and in, the Panthers won the battle and took Game 3. Of all the people to do it, nobody should be shocked that it was Brad Marchand.

Marchand has long been a thorn in the side of the Maple Leafs, so it’s only fitting that when the unthinkable happens and he’s traded from the Boston Bruins to the Panthers, the Leafs still find a way to face him in the playoffs.

Despite how much he’s tormented them in the postseason, he’s always had nothing but good things to say about the Leafs and games he plays against them. And that was no different following Game 3, a game in which he scored the winner to defeat them.

Brad Marchand on Maple Leafs' first period: "They have that killer instinct right now."

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) May 10, 2025

It wasn’t the first time in the series Marchand spoke fondly about the Leafs. He commented on how impressed he was with their play off the rush following the Leafs’ Game 2 win.

“Their biggest threat is that they’re very good on the rush,” Marchand said after Game 2. “You got to be above them. It seemed like every time we gave them the opportunity to get above us, they created something or capitalized on it. It shows how dangerous they are. It doesn’t take much for them to score. We have to make sure we’re pretty much perfect on defensive coverage.”

Whether you believe these are genuine comments, an attempt at mind games, or a mix of both, it’s clear that the Panthers are prepared to face a vastly different Leafs team than the one they defeated in five games back in 2022-23. For the issues the Leafs had in net and in the defensive zone as a whole, they’ve been finding ways to defeat Sergei Bobrovsky, with 12 goals on him through three games, and they proved that they didn’t have any quit in their game by sending the game to overtime.

Game 4 will take place on Sunday from Sunrise.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/bra...ough-game-toronto-maple-leafs-killer-instinct