The Maple Leafs held a practice at Ford Performance Centre on Monday.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Following Saturday\u2019s overtime loss, Anthony Stolarz<\/a> called out his team for an inconsistent start to the season. As part of his criticism, the Leafs goalie singled out William Nylander<\/a> for what he perceived to be a poor effort on the Seattle Kraken<\/a>\u2019s game-winning goal. <\/p>\n After the dust settled, the goalie pulled the star winger aside to talk about what happened. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all good,\u201d Nylander assured reporters on Monday. \u201cLook, we\u2019re teammates. He\u2019s a great guy. There\u2019s nothing that we need to, you know, talk about here. He talked to me after and it\u2019s all good. It\u2019s been no issue since.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s someone I admire and someone I respect deeply,\u201d Stolarz said. \u201cThere\u2019s a reason he\u2019s been in this league for so long. He\u2019s a hell of a player. He pushes me and I push him. You look at his offensive skill, he\u2019s made me a better goalie just by facing him every day in practice.\u201d<\/p>\n Nylander leads the Leafs with 11 points in six games, which is tied for third overall in the NHL entering play on Monday. But Nylander also got beat up the ice by Kraken defenceman Josh Mahura<\/a> in overtime on Saturday. <\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, I don\u2019t really remember it,\u201d Nylander said. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen it since so I don\u2019t know. I think he just beat me, beat me up the ice there. That\u2019s all I can really remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get paid to stop the puck too,\u201d Stolarz said. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s on me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Just early-season issues?<\/p>\n Stolarz: I mean, a lot of guys have been here for a while. Overtime, you can’t let someone beat you up the ice there & gets a clear-cut breakaway. A minute left, you want to be on the ice in that situation you gotta work hard … It cost us a point https:\/\/t.co\/3bCHR1sFRS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ‘He pushes me, I push him’: Stolarz, Nylander on the same page following Saturday’s loss Anthony Stolarz and William Nylander have talked to each other since the goaltender’s post game comments following Saturday’s overtime loss to the Kraken. At the end of the day, Stolarz said the entire team is always looking to push each other in order to achieve their ultimate goal. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n The Leafs, as a team, also addressed Stolarz\u2019s comments. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a veteran group in here,\u201d said top-line centre Auston Matthews<\/a>, who is in his second season as captain. \u201cWe\u2019re all big boys. I mean, you don\u2019t need to beat around the bush. It\u2019s an easy conversation we all had. And, you know, you just move on from it. Close the door and move on. We gotta be better, and we will be.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs are 3-2-1 despite playing five games at home and facing only one team that made the playoffs last season. So, it\u2019s true that Toronto is not playing up to its potential. Still, Craig Berube<\/a> would have preferred if Stolarz refrained from airing his grievances publicly. <\/p>\n \u201cListen, it happens a lot,\u201d the coach said. \u201cIt\u2019s happened over years and years. Players get frustrated and sometimes they say things that they [should] just keep in the room. That\u2019s all. But it\u2019s over with.\u201d<\/p>\n The focus is now on the surging New Jersey Devils<\/a>, winners of four straight, who will face the Leafs in Toronto on Tuesday night. <\/p>\n Berube appreciates Stolarz’s frustration but would prefer comments ‘stay in the room’ Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube chalked up Anthony Stolarz’s post game comments as frustration and something that happens from time to time, but would prefer those types of comments stay in the room. Captain Auston Matthews said the bottom line is the team needs to be better while Stolarz spoke about how he sees his leadership role on the team. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had some discussions and we love each other,\u201d said Stolarz. \u201cIt\u2019s a family in here and we\u2019re looking to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Stolarz didn\u2019t back down or walk back any of what he said on Saturday night when he blasted the team for being outworked in the first two periods against the Kraken.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a vocal guy,\u201d the 31-year-old said. \u201cI\u2019m going to continue to be a vocal guy. I\u2019m a competitor. It\u2019s the reason I\u2019ve gotten to this point in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s an honest guy,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cHe just kind of tells you how it is. There\u2019s not really any holding back. He\u2019s pretty laidback in general, but when it comes to playing, he\u2019s a competitor. I think you see that in the way he plays, in the way that he competes out there for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Before signing in Toronto during the summer of 2024, Stolarz backed up Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a> during Florida\u2019s Stanley Cup run. <\/p>\n \u201cThey had vocal leaders, and they still have a lot of guys there as well,\u201d said Stolarz, who signed a four-year extension during training camp. \u201cJust being able to witness that is something that I want to bring to this team, just that leadership role.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs took the Panthers to seven games in the second round of the playoffs last spring despite losing Stolarz to a concussion in the first game of the series. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have those same intangibles, and that\u2019s why I feel so passionately about everything, just because you see the similarities in both teams,\u201d said Stolarz, who led the NHL in save percentage last season (.926) while playing a career high 34 games. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re on the cusp of doing great things, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m so passionate about it, because we\u2019re right there. I feel like we can do it and go all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Stolarz shared the net with Joseph Woll<\/a> last season before winning the starter\u2019s job for the playoffs. With Woll away from the team on personal leave, Stolarz has started five of the first six games this season.<\/p>\n What impact will Stolarz public call out have on Leafs? TSN Hockey analyst Marc Denis and TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button join Domino’s That’s Hockey to discuss what kind of impact Anthony Stolarz’s public call out will have on the Maple Leafs. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n The Leafs have cleared the air in the wake of Stolarz\u2019s comments, but the issues raised by the goalie still need to be addressed. For one thing, Stolarz believes Toronto\u2019s forwards can do a better job of getting to the opposition net. <\/p>\n \u201cI agree,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI mean, we\u2019ve talked about it quite a bit. We could do a better job of being harder around the offensive net, getting there more, fighting for space. That makes it tough on the goalie and tough on the other team. Net fronts are important, whether you\u2019re defending them or offensively getting there. So yeah, for sure, that\u2019s an opportunity for us. We got to be better in that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Defending Stolarz is also an issue. The Leafs goalie has already been run into multiple times this season. Seattle\u2019s Mason Marchment<\/a> crashed into Stolarz in the second period on Saturday. The 6-foot-6, 248-pound New Jersey native got up and pushed the net over while defencemen Brandon Carlo<\/a> and Jake McCabe<\/a> looked on. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the UFC,\u201d Stolarz noted. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to go and start a ground and pound. So you can\u2019t really do much there with him. I know the guys have my back, and I have theirs. You look at two games ago, [Matt] Rempe put his arm on John [Tavares], and you never know what\u2019s going to happen, so I just went out and put my arm on him just to kind of let him know, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m here too.\u2019 You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The bigger issue, Berube suggested, is what happened on the third Kraken goal by Vince Dunn<\/a>. On that play, Carlo ended up pushing Jaden Schwartz<\/a> into Stolarz, which prevented the Leafs goalie from making a save. <\/p>\n \u201cThings happened fast,\u201d Carlo said. \u201cI was doing my best to box him out there. He got behind me a little bit … I just need to try and do my best to keep him to the outside and then that doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s finding your guys early enough to be able to box them about and it doesn\u2019t always happen,\u201d Berube said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of good players that are good at fighting for the net and getting to the net. We were really good at it last year and we\u2019re going to keep banging away at it.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘I know the guys have my back’: Stolarz reflects on being run into by Marchment One of Anthony Stolarz’s criticisms on Saturday was the lack of reaction of his teammates after being run by Kraken forward Mason Marchment. The netminder realizes there is a fine line between defending teammates and staying disciplined. Head coach Craig Berube emphasized the importance of net-front presence on both ends of the ice. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Carlo was reluctant to go after Marchment following the collision with Stolarz. <\/p>\n \u201cI saw, the referee call the penalty,\u201d he explained. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to do too much to retaliate … Once you see Stollie get up and be angry you want to try and give him a shot. But, overall, you want to go on the power play as well. So it\u2019s a weird area to be in. But overall, I think the power play is a useful thing in that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Toronto trailed Seattle 3-2 at the time. The Leafs did not score on the ensuing power play, but did score on the man advantage in the third period to tie things up. <\/p>\n The Leafs power play is now clicking at 14.3 per cent (2\/14) which ranks 26th overall. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are attempting shots and shooting pucks,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a couple [goals] now so that\u2019s a good thing … The one area I think we could be better at is hitting the net. I think we missed opportunities on the power play where we don\u2019t hit the net.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs drew a season high four power-play opportunities on Saturday. Toronto is tied for 28th in power-play opportunities this season. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Max Domi<\/a> moved up to the top line at Monday\u2019s practice, skating beside Matthews and Matthew Knies<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI know he\u2019s played in the past with those guys so I just wanted to get to that, just see how it looks, and see where we go from there,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n The coach planned to start the season with Domi in that spot, but changed course after centre Scott Laughton<\/a> got hurt. Berube felt he needed to shore up the centre position so he moved Domi to the middle of the third line. <\/p>\n Domi caught fire while playing on a line with Tyler Bertuzzi<\/a> and Matthews late in the 2023-24 season. Will the chemistry with Matthews come back right away? <\/p>\n \u201cI mean, we\u2019ll find out tomorrow,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cHe\u2019s an easy guy to play with. He sees the ice extremely well. We\u2019ve played together in the past, so I think it\u2019s good to have that chemistry and that experience together.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews has scored just one 5-on-5 goal this season while seeing a number of different players rotate in on the right side of the top line. <\/p>\n \u201cIt just kind of can lack consistency at times,\u201d Matthews said of his line. \u201cThere\u2019s good segments and then there\u2019s obviously, you know, segments where I think we\u2019re defending too much and giving up too many odd mans. And those are just little details, little things that we can clean up and make it easier on ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Matias Maccelli<\/a> started the first couple of games beside Matthews and Knies before giving way to rookie Easton Cowan<\/a>. Cowan was bumped off the top line in each of the last two games with Nylander taking shifts beside Matthews and Knies. <\/p>\n Cowan skated as an extra at Monday\u2019s practice and the 20-year-old projects to be a healthy scratch against the Devils. <\/p>\n Steven Lorentz<\/a> moved to the middle of the fourth line between Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok<\/a>, who was a scratch on Saturday. <\/p>\n Leafs Ice Chips: Domi joins Matthews line; Cowan projects to be scratch The Maple Leafs will have another variation of their top line when they host the Devils Tuesday night, with Max Domi moving up to join Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies at Monday’s practice. TSN’s Mark Masters has more, despite surviving an errant puck while viewing the morning skate. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Defenceman Morgan Rielly<\/a> scored the opening goal for the Leafs on Saturday and is now up to six points in six games. <\/p>\n \u201cJust being aggressive,\u201d Tavares observed of Rielly\u2019s play. \u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s feeling in between or second-guessing. I think he\u2019s just trusting his instincts and playing his game. He knows the type of player he is and the impact he can make just from how he sees it, his skill set, his ability to skate.\u201d<\/p>\n Rielly produced just 41 points in 82 games last season while adjusting to Berube\u2019s new system. The coach started last year, his first in Toronto, by urging the longest-serving Leaf to reduce the risk in his game. <\/p>\n Rielly seems to be back to his old offensive-minded self so far this season.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s awesome,\u201d said Carlo, who is Rielly\u2019s partner. \u201cYou can see how much he\u2019s getting up and involved in the play. It\u2019s been a lot of fun to watch and just to see how much he can create.\u201d<\/p>\n Morgan Rielly scores off-the-rush. \u2014 Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Tavares scored twice on Saturday and, in the process, hit the 500-point milestone with the Leafs. <\/p>\n Tavares, who played the first nine seasons of his career with the New York Islanders<\/a>, is the fourth player in NHL history to record 500 points with multiple franchises joining Wayne Gretzky<\/a>, Mark Messier<\/a> and Ron Francis. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d raved Rielly. \u201cHe\u2019s just a hockey player through and through. Just a pro. It\u2019s been a real joy to have the chance to play with him and watch him operate. He deserves to be in that company all day. He\u2019s a very impressive guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Berube appreciates how Tavares attacks every day the same way. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the consistency he brings every game,\u201d the coach said. \u201cHe brings the effort and what needs to be done. He doesn\u2019t take nights off, and that\u2019s why he\u2019s able to accomplish what he\u2019s been able to.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Lines at Monday\u2019s practice: <\/p>\n Knies – Matthews – Domi<\/p>\n Maccelli – Tavares – Nylander<\/p>\n Joshua – Roy – McMann<\/p>\n Robertson – Lorentz – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n Blais, Cowan<\/p>\n McCabe – Tanev<\/p>\n Rielly – Carlo<\/p>\n Benoit – Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n Myers<\/p>\n Stolarz<\/p>\n Primeau<\/p>\n Power play units at Monday\u2019s practice: <\/p>\n QB: Rielly<\/p>\n Flanks: Matthews, Nylander<\/p>\n Middle: Tavares<\/p>\n Net front: Knies<\/p>\n QB: Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n Flanks: Domi, Maccelli<\/p>\n Middle: Robertson<\/p>\n Net front: McMann<\/p>\n
He now leads all defencemen with 6 scoring chances off-the-rush this season, in this his 6th game.
It took him until his 39th game last season to have that many. https:\/\/t.co\/aNJcNLTwHv<\/a><\/p>\n