9 h. ago LEAF NOTES: Once students of tactics, Toronto now studied by rivals

The Maple Leafs had been trying to copy other clubs’ tactical blueprint for years. But as they put together a fourth straight 100-point season and try to make it to the conference final, other teams are leaning over for a peek. “I look at the Leafs now,” Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan to […]

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11 h. ago MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Matthew Knies toeing the line in screening Sergei Bobrovsky

Screening Sergei Bobrovsky is one thing. Sticking an elbow or a forearm in the face of the Florida Panthers goaltender is another. Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was told by the referees to tone it down a bit during Game 2 when he deliberately got his right elbow and arm up in front of Bobrovsky […]

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8 d. ago MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Teammates inspire teammates, rolling Panthers await

The message was sinking in, apparently. Or specifically, how the message was being worded in the Maple Leafs dressing room before Game 6 Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. A day after Leafs coach Craig Berube said the only pressure his players have is from their own teammates, captain Auston Matthews carried a similar tune on […]

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1 week ago MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Scott Laughton’s ‘simple’ game a boon in playoffs

Scott Laughton was finding his return to the Stanley Cup playoffs to his liking. The Battle of Ontario marked just the fourth time Laughton has participated in the annual tournament, and first since the 2020 bubble season with the Philadelphia Flyers. “It feels awesome,” Laughton told media in Ottawa on Saturday, hours ahead of Game […]

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2 w. ago LEAF NOTES: Brady Tkachuk and Senators vow series far from over

If expecting the Ottawa dressing room to be as down as lowest lock on the Rideau Canal after Game 2, it was very high in spirit. Starting with captain Brady Tkachuk, unfazed by the crowd abuse in Toronto, now on the scoreboard himself and full of faith despite their comeback ending in a 3-2 overtime […]

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3 w. ago MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Treliving shrugs off Stolarz’s lack of playoff experience

Anthony Stolarz has just one Stanley Cup playoff game on his resume. The man who signed Stolarz to a two-year contract last summer in free agency, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, could not care less. “I know everybody talks about lack of playoff experience and what’s the old line, ‘Experience is really important, unless […]

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3 w. ago MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Tanev eagerly anticipates another provincial battle

Chris Tanev will be have some battle-tested experience when the first-round series between the Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators gets underway The rugged Toronto defenceman has had a taste of a provincial playoff rivalry, having been part of the Calgary Flames’ defence corps in 2022 when the Flames met the Edmonton Oilers in the second […]

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3 w. ago Leafs notes: Toronto’s first place race takes precedence over any help for Habs

The Maple Leafs found themselves on the fence Saturday night where the cross-border playoff picture was situated. Toronto was in the unique pre-game position of denying the Montreal Canadiens a playoff spot at least another day with a regulation win, while the reverse would help a fifth Canadian team qualify. Keep in mind it’s a […]

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4 w. ago LEAFS NOTES: Berube expects ‘another level’ from Calle Jarnkrok

For another practice at least, Calle Jarnkrok was in the Maple Leafs’ top six. Whether Jarnkrok should be on a line with centre John Tavares and William Nylander for the longer term is debatable, but what matters most is that Leafs coach Craig Berube is fine with using the veteran winger there when he sees […]

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last month LEAFS NOTES: Trip back to Florida for playoffs a strong possibility

The Maple Leafs likely haven’t seen the last of the Sunshine State’s palm trees. While Wednesday night in Tampa Bay wrapped a combined eight games against the Lightning and Panthers this season, the Leafs either draw one of them in the playoffs’ opening round or, should they face the Ottawa Senators and get through, the […]

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