The Maple Leafs and Panthers held practices at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Monday. <\/p>\n
The Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> are starting December four points outside a playoff spot, but Brad Marchand<\/a> still views them as \u201ca very good contending team.\u201d<\/p>\n The Panthers winger believes it\u2019s too early to make any judgements about a team\u2019s playoff prospects. He is, however, well aware that the concern level is high in Toronto. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously with the media attention and the fan support that they have in Toronto, you know, things get blown way out of proportion up there,\u201d Marchand said. \u201cWhat are they, four points out of a playoff spot? If people are thinking they\u2019re out of a playoff spot for the season they got to find a new job.\u201d<\/p>\n Marchand sees a simple reason for why the Leafs, who finished first in the Atlantic Division last year, are currently sitting in 15th place in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re battling some injuries, stuff like that, which affects your overall game and your consistency and just how comfortable you are with with your linemates and everything,\u201d Marchand said. <\/p>\n Only four Leafs players (centre John Tavares<\/a>, winger Bobby McMann<\/a>, defenceman Jake McCabe<\/a> and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a>) have suited up in all 25 games this season. <\/p>\n The Leafs pushed the eventual Stanley Cup champion Panthers to seven games during the playoffs last season. What does Marchand remember most about the second-round series? <\/p>\n \u201cThey were one goal away from from beating us, essentially,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Toronto led the best-of-seven series 2-0 and had chances to take a stranglehold lead in overtime of Game 3 before Marchand scored the winning goal. <\/p>\n \u201cThey compete very hard,\u201d Marchand recalled. \u201cThey\u2019re very deep. Their defensive structure is way better now than it was in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n After the series ended, Marchand expressed sympathy for Leafs players. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you see the pressure Toronto faces … they just beat the pressure into this team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n “When you see the pressure Toronto faces… they just beat the pressure into this team.”<\/p>\n Brad Marchand says the Toronto fans and media put extra pressure on the team. pic.twitter.com\/rX5SHyNytm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Marchand: People doubting Leafs playoff chances ‘got to find a new job’ The Maple Leafs and Panthers sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, tied at 25 points heading into a playoff rematch on Tuesday. Brad Marchand is confident both teams will work through their issues, and said if you think your playoff dreams are done 25 games into a season then you have bigger problems. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Florida is tied with Toronto with 25 points this season, although the Panthers have played one fewer game and have four more regulation wins (11-7). <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going through the same thing,\u201d said Marchand. \u201cWe\u2019re both trying to find our game.\u201d<\/p>\n The search continues on Tuesday night when the Leafs and Panthers faceoff for the first time since Florida\u2019s decisive 6-1 win at Scotiabank Arena in Game 7.<\/p>\n Head coach Craig Berube<\/a> doesn\u2019t plan on bringing up the Game 7 beatdown when it comes to preparing his group, but there\u2019s no doubt that it is a motivating factor for some of his players. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s good to use that,\u201d said Ekman-Larsson, who won the Cup with Florida in 2024. \u201cYou always want to learn from games and your experience, so I think it\u2019s great to have that in the back of your head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you use it as motivation,\u201d agreed Leafs captain Auston Matthews<\/a>. \u201cAt the same time, it\u2019s a divisional game. Looking at where we\u2019re at in the standings and just how important these games are, especially against your own division, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s really any extra motivation needed.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs have won two of three games to start this season-long five-game road trip. The Panthers have lost three straight at home and three of four overall. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a lot of juice in the building for both teams,\u201d predicted Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad<\/a>. \u201cThese are always emotional matches against teams that we play in the playoffs and they bring it just as much as we do. So, it\u2019s always a fun game for the fans and a fun game for us to find our mojo again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to very emotional,\u201d said Panthers forward A.J. Greer<\/a>. \u201cIt was a hard-fought series. A series that goes to seven games, for one team it is a great accomplishment and for the other it is a hard pill to swallow. I think the intensity is going to be very, very high and just expecting us to come out, play a playoff game, do the simple things right and set the tone early.\u201d<\/p>\n Extra energy expected as Leafs-Panthers renew rivalry in playoff rematch The Maple Leafs and Panthers meet on Tuesday in a playoff rematch, and both teams come in hungry for a win as they try to overcome some early season struggles. Florida expects extra intensity for the matchup, and the Leafs will use that playoff heartbreak as motivation in the rematch. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n The Leafs are coming off their most lopsided win of the season. Seven different players scored during Saturday\u2019s 7-2 rout over the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>, including Matthews. It was the centre\u2019s first goal since since returning from a five-game injury absence. <\/p>\n \u201cIt feels good,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cThe first couple games getting back, you just want to try to find your rhythm and get back to, you know, just your momentum and your feel and touch out there. So it always feels good to put one in the net. And obviously getting a win like that just does a lot for our confidence. We just want to continue to push the pedal to the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s goal by Matthews was a classic snipe from 42 feet out. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was good to see,\u201d said Berube. \u201cWhat was good about it for me is [that it\u2019s a] distance shot. You know what I mean? He\u2019s scored a lot of goals that way in his career, and it\u2019s good to see that one go in because his shot can beat goalies from distance.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews has scored 10 goals in 20 games this season, but only four via a wrist shot. <\/p>\n Last year, Matthews potted a career-low 33 while suiting up in 67 games. An upper-body injury plagued Matthews throughout the campaign. <\/p>\n In the 2023-24 season, Matthews claimed his third Rocket Richard Trophy by scoring 69 goals. Marchand believes it may actually be a good thing that Matthews isn\u2019t posting eye-popping goal totals any more. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s focusing more on a 200-foot game,\u201d Marchand observed. \u201cHe\u2019s playing more physical defensively. I think that\u2019s one of the things I really noticed about him last year. He was much more reliable, much tougher to play against in his end of the ice than in years past.<\/p>\n \u201cGood for him. He easily could have worried about cheating and scoring goals and and chasing 60-plus goals every year … He\u2019s gonna have to sacrifice scoring maybe the way he did in the past and that\u2019s what you have to do to win, and that\u2019s part of why they were such a good team last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Your humble correspondent relayed Marchand\u2019s comment to Matthews, who agreed with the sentiment. <\/p>\n \u201cI always want to be the best player that I can be and produce and do all these things,\u201d the 28-year-old said. \u201cBut, in the end, the most important thing to me is winning with this group here. And so, whatever the sacrifice needs to be, I mean, I\u2019m willing to make it. <\/p>\n \u201cYou look at the teams that win, you know, the Barkovs, Bergerons, Crosbys, all those guys, Toews, Kopitar, all the guys that win playing that centre position, I mean, they do it on both ends of the ice, so I definitely want to be that kind of player.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews is tied for the team lead at plus-nine this season. He leads all Leafs forwards in blocked shots. <\/p>\n Marchand sees Matthews sacrificing offence to play winning hockey Panthers star Brad Marchand compliments Auston Matthews for improving his 200-foot game and says the Leafs’ captain is much tougher to play against now than he was in year’s past. Matthews says it’s all about winning and he’s willing to make any sacrifice necessary in order to make that happen in Toronto. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Matthews may be sacrificing some offence for defence, but that doesn\u2019t explain why he\u2019s struggling to score on the power play. Matthews has just one goal and two points on the man advantage this season. <\/p>\n Matthews potted 10 power-play goals and produced 25 power-play points last season. Toronto\u2019s power play finished tied for eighth overall last year (24.8 per cent) thanks to a five-forward alignment with Mitch Marner at the quarterback spot. <\/p>\n With Toronto\u2019s power play ranking 25th (15.9 per cent) so far this season, the team has decided to go back to the five-forward look with Matthews replacing defenceman Morgan Rielly<\/a> at the top. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pretty big adjustment,\u201d said Matthews. \u201cI was telling Mo, it\u2019s definitely not as easy as it looks up there, but I think it\u2019s come along all right. I thought we had some better looks [Saturday], and it was nice to be able to practice it out here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got an opportunity to shoot a lot of pucks from there,\u201d said Berube. \u201cThe puck is on his stick a lot, which we like right now.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs unveiled the new alignment on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> without having completed any practice reps with that formation. Toronto worked on it at practice on Thursday and again on Monday. <\/p>\n Berube whistled Monday\u2019s practice over, but Matthews asked for additional reps. <\/p>\n \u201cFor me, I want to still be aggressive,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cBut knowing that I\u2019m kind of that last man back, I can\u2019t get sucked in too far into the O-zone there. So, just trying to move it and create some space for other guys, and shooting the puck when I can and just trying to find some openings.\u201d<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s top unit surrendered a 3-on-1 chance during a power play in Columbus and allowed a breakaway on Saturday in Pittsburgh. On both occasions the team\u2019s goalie bailed out the top unit. <\/p>\n The Leafs scored on one of their three power plays on Saturday. The lone goal was scored by Nicolas Roy<\/a> as part of a second-unit shift.<\/p>\n Matthews looks to build momentum after first post-injury goal; PP QB role a work in progress Auston Matthews scored his first goal in three games since returning from an injury absence, and hopes to carry that momentum forward as the Maple Leafs continue their road trip in Florida. Craig Berube explained why he moved Matthews to the point on the power play, a spot which Matthews admits isn’t as easy as it looks. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n The Panthers have played the entire season without captain and top-line centre Aleksander Barkov<\/a> and alternate captain and top-six winger Matthew Tkachuk<\/a>. In the absence of those key players, and several other regulars, Marchand is leading the way. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s [got] the team on his back right now,\u201d said Ekblad. \u201cHe\u2019s incredible. His ability to hold on to pucks and make plays, but also play that simple game, and be aggressive and get under the other team\u2019s skin is second to none.\u201d<\/p>\n Marchand is leading the Panthers in goals (15), points (27) and penalties drawn (12). <\/p>\n \u201cHe scores every game pretty much,\u201d marvelled winger Carter Verhaeghe<\/a>. \u201cThis is crazy. To be doing that at this point in his career is absolutely insane. I hope I can be half that at that age. So, yeah, he\u2019s been our leader in driving every game.\u201d<\/p>\n The 37-year-old is simply picking up where he left off last season when Marchand finished as runner-up for the Conn Smythe Trophy. <\/p>\n \u201cHe looks like he did in the playoffs and has that same kind of energy every day and we need that right now,\u201d said coach Paul Maurice. \u201cHe\u2019s been really, really important to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Marchand downplayed his contribution this season and actually took the blame for the most recent loss to the Calgary Flames<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just unacceptable,\u201d he said of Florida\u2019s sloppy play. \u201cWe\u2019re better than that. It starts with me last game. I turn a puck over when we\u2019re up 2-0. We\u2019re in control and the momentum changes. It\u2019s just understanding that a single play is enough to impact the game in a negative way or positive way and just doing our job. I think that\u2019s why we\u2019ve been really good, and why we\u2019ve had success as a group is because we value the little details that most teams don\u2019t, and most players don\u2019t, and especially down the stretch in the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Team’s on his back right now’: Marchand helps Panthers stay afloat amid injuries Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk have yet to play a game for Florida this season, and Brad Marchand has stepped up in their absence with 15 goals and 27 points in 23 games. The Panthers are happy to have Marchand on their side and note how vital the 37-year-old has been to keeping the team afloat amid their injuries. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Brandon Carlo<\/a> returned to practice on Thursday in Washington and the hope was the injured defenceman would skate again with the team on Monday. But Carlo, who has not played since Nov. 13, did not hit the ice in Florida. Instead, he travelled back home to Toronto to meet with a doctor. <\/p>\n Berube confirmed Carlo suffered a setback in his recovery. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll know something probably in the next 24 hours on him,\u201d the coach. <\/p>\n When Carlo missed practice on Nov. 14 it was described as simply a \u201cmaintenance day\u201d by the team. When he missed the game on Nov. 15 the timeline cited by Berube was \u201cday-to-day.\u201d Now, the 29-year-old is out for the foreseebale future. <\/p>\n Fellow right-shot defenceman Chris Tanev<\/a> is also sidelined with no timeline for his return from an upper-body injury sustained on Nov. 1. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Down a couple right-shot rearguards, the Leafs have leaned on waiver wire pick-up Troy Stecher<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cHe plays with pace,\u201d said Berube. \u201cI think that\u2019s one of the biggest things I noticed. He closes on people quick and moves his feet really well. And just, he\u2019s simple with the puck, right? He makes the first pass or makes a hard play when he has to, and he\u2019s been defending well. He\u2019s been defending hard at our net and things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Stecher is plus-two while averaging 17:27 of ice time in six games with the Leafs. On Saturday in Pittsburgh, with Simon Benoit<\/a> absent for personal reasons, Stecher moved up to the second pair beside Jake McCabe<\/a> and led the team in ice time (23:52). <\/p>\n Even with Benoit back at Monday\u2019s practice, Stecher remained beside McCabe. <\/p>\n \u201cI met Jake this summer, actually, skating in the off-season, so just kind of that little familiarity definitely helps,\u201d said Stecher, who played two Stanley Cup Final games against the Panthers while with the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> last season. \u201cI thought we were vocal together, and we tried to put our best foot forward. But the onus is on us to do it again tomorrow night.\u201d<\/p>\n McCabe had been playing on the right side on a pairing with Benoit. <\/p>\n \u201cI do like McCabe on the left,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe was a lot better on the left that game. Not that he hasn\u2019t done a good job on the right, but I\u2019d rather him on the left as much as possible. And him and Stecher were good together the other night.\u201d<\/p>\n Benoit partnered with Philippe Myers<\/a> on the third pair at practice while Dakota Mermis<\/a> rotated in as the seventh defenceman.<\/p>\n Leafs Ice Chips: Carlo suffers setback; Stecher stays with McCabe Leafs defenceman Brandon Carlo has suffered a setback and was sent back to Toronto for further testing. Troy Stecher, who was claimed off waivers a few weeks ago, remains on a pairing with Jake McCabe. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on the defensive adjustments Craig Berube is making on Toronto’s banged-up blueline. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n With righties Stecher and Myers in the top six on defence, there\u2019s only one player being forced to line up on their weak side, but it certainly doesn\u2019t seem to bother Ekman-Larsson. The team\u2019s oldest defenceman carries a nine-game point streak into Tuesday\u2019s tilt. <\/p>\n If Ekman-Larsson hits the scoresheet in Florida, he will tie Tom Kurvers<\/a> (10 games in 1989-90) for the longest point streak by a defenceman in Leafs history. <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know that,\u201d Ekman-Larsson said with a laugh. \u201cThanks for telling me. No pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n Did TSN just jinx OEL? Probably not. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s extremely poised,\u201d said Ekblad. \u201cNothing ever bothers him. He\u2019s a gamer.\u201d<\/p>\n With 20 points (only three on the power play) in 25 games, Ekman-Larsson is on pace for his most productive season ever at age 34. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s done it before,\u201d said Matthews, an Arizona native. \u201cI\u2019ve been watching him since I was a young kid when he was [with] the Coyotes. He\u2019s always been great offensively with the puck. He plays with a little edge to him as well. You\u2019re just seeing him jumping up in plays, being available. He\u2019s got a good shot. He can get pucks through, and, you know, it\u2019s finding him right now.\u201d<\/p>\n After leaving Saturday\u2019s game in the third period due to an upper-body injury, Ekman-Larsson participated fully in practice on Monday. <\/p>\n \u201cNothing major,\u201d the Swede said with a shrug. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m not giving much [information], but I\u2019m fine. I\u2019m feeling good. So just, yeah, taking care of the body and making sure that it was all good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not afraid to get hit and roll off hits,\u201d noted Ekblad. \u201cI think the guys that stick around a long time know how to do that and do that well and do it under pressure and protect themselves as well.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Nothing ever bothers him’: Ekman-Larsson ready to chase Leafs record after injury scare Oliver Ekman-Larsson has four goals and 20 points in 25 games this season and heads to Florida riding a career-best nine-game point streak, tied for second longest by a defenceman in Maple Leafs history. As OEL chases down records, the Leafs and his former Panthers teammates spoke about what makes him so effective. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n There were a few injury scares at Monday\u2019s practice. <\/p>\n