The Maple Leafs held a practice at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. on Wednesday before travelling to Raleigh. <\/p>\n
The Leafs failed to convert on three power-play chances on Tuesday night and the five-forward top unit allowed the Florida Panthers<\/a> to score a shorthanded goal. <\/p>\n Will Toronto go back to the alignment with centre Auston Matthews<\/a> at the point for Thursday\u2019s game against the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>? <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still undecided,\u201d coach Craig Berube<\/a> said. \u201cI\u2019m still thinking about it. We didn\u2019t work on it today. I didn\u2019t think it was a good day to work on it, but we definitely got to figure it out. The players got to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs did not do any special teams work during Wednesday\u2019s short practice, which lasted only about 15 minutes. <\/p>\n \u201cAfter a game, like, I don\u2019t think their heads were going to be into it,\u201d Berube explained. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to tax the penalty kill either. We played last night. I didn\u2019t feel it was a day to work on it.\u201d<\/p>\n The team will hold only an optional skate on Thursday morning in Raleigh so any improvements will need to come via video sessions and internal conversations. <\/p>\n The Leafs are converting on just 15.2 per cent of their chances this season, which ranks 27th overall entering Wednesday\u2019s slate of games. They have tried a number of different looks with defencemen Morgan Rielly<\/a> and Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> both getting a chance at the quarterback spot. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not the issue,\u201d Berube stressed. \u201cEverybody on the ice has to be accountable to it. It\u2019s not just one guy. We\u2019re just trying to find something that works.\u201d<\/p>\n When Matthews returned from injury last week in Columbus, the Leafs decided to give the five-forward look a chance. Matthews moved to the top of the zone with rookie Easton Cowan<\/a> taking his spot on the flank. William Nylander<\/a> remained on the other flank with John Tavares<\/a> in the bumper and Matthew Knies<\/a> in front of the net. <\/p>\n \u201cLast year we went to five forwards and it worked,\u201d Berube pointed out. \u201cIt pretty much worked most of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n But that was with Mitch Marner up top. Matthews, who has just one goal and one assist on the power play this season, has never played the quarterback role before. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has spent most of his life on the flank. <\/p>\n After a slow start last season with new assistant coach Marc Savard<\/a> running things, the power play took off with five forwards on the top unit. Toronto finished tied for eighth overall with a 24.8 per cent conversion rate. <\/p>\n But the Leafs are struggling to snap out of a slow start this season. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a little bit frustrating,\u201d admitted Nylander, who leads the team with five power-play points. \u201cBut, as of recently, I think the power play has gotten better and is moving the puck better. Getting pucks to the net is the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The lack of goals is a pressing issue, but another power-play problem is now popping up. Toronto\u2019s top unit has allowed a high-danger chance against in all three games it\u2019s had a chance, including a 3-on-1 rush in Columbus and a breakaway in Pittsburgh. On both those occasions, the team\u2019s goalie made a big save. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen the puck\u2019s not on our stick, I think we\u2019ve got to get back and just play defence a little bit better,\u201d said Knies. \u201cIf you see them about to get the first touch I think it\u2019s just getting back and being urgent in our D-zone.\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday night, Knies over-committed on the back check, which allowed Sam Reinhart<\/a> to get open in the slot. Anton Lundell<\/a> won a puck battle with Nylander, Cowan and Matthews to feed the Panthers winger, who made no mistake. <\/p>\n \u201cWe had guys back there and then they out battled us in that corner and we just kind of lost coverage,\u201d said Matthews.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were four guys back,\u201d said Nylander. \u201cThey were two, and they were able to score. I don\u2019t really think that that has anything to do with it, if there was a D out there or not. It was just a bad job on our part.\u201d<\/p>\n So, Berube has plenty to think about as he prepares for Thursday\u2019s final game of the road trip in Raleigh. <\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t need to be over complicated,\u201d Matthews stressed. \u201cWe did a little bit, maybe, too much passing around the outside instead of just attacking and going from there. It doesn\u2019t have to be, you know, three, four or five passes before you can get a look. It can be a shot, recovery, one pass, two passes, and then just continue to attack. I think we could just do a better job of that and go from there. I mean, obviously, the power play has been kind of hit or miss, and we need that to be good.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs have scored just 10 power-play goals, which is tied for fewest in the NHL. They have allowed three shorthanded goals. Toronto\u2019s plus-seven goal differential on the power play is tied with the Los Angeles Kings<\/a> for worst in the league. <\/p>\n Berube undecided on future of Leafs five-forward power play alignment While the Maple Leafs came away with a win in Florida, Toronto failed to convert on three power-play chances and actually surrendered a shorthanded goal. The goal in question had five forwards on the ice for the Leafs, which now has head coach Craig Berube rethinking his strategy. <\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n Nylander logged just 16 minutes and 37 seconds in Tuesday\u2019s game, which was a season-low mark. <\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t like he didn\u2019t get out there,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe was out there with his line every shift. So, I don\u2019t know, ice times, they don\u2019t mark \u2019em properly up there half the time anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n Nylander\u2019s previous season low was 17:39 during a game in Buffalo on Oct. 24, which he left early due to injury. His average ice time this season is 20:04. <\/p>\n \u201cI thought Willy worked last night,\u201d Berube said. \u201cA lot didn\u2019t happen with that line offensively, but when you play Florida it\u2019s going to be that way sometimes. And what I liked about their line [with Tavares and Cowan] is they didn\u2019t force things. They just kept it, kept working and doing the job. So, you know, that\u2019s going to happen at times.\u201d<\/p>\n Nylander finished without a point for only the third time this season. He failed to register a shot on goal for only the fifth time. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a game where we took the lead early and, you know, didn\u2019t really want to take too many chances,\u201d Nylander noted. \u201cSo, I mean, I thought we did a pretty good job not giving up too much dangerous stuff the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n Nylander missed a practice last Thursday for what the team called a \u201cmaintenance day.\u201d He also missed Friday\u2019s game due to an illness. At Monday\u2019s practice, he fell awkwardly and needed a breather at the bench before continuing. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s fine physically,\u201d Berube assured. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel good,\u201d Nylander said. <\/p>\n Nylander was the last player on the ice at practice. He spoke with head athletic therapist Paul Ayotte at the bench at the end of the session. <\/p>\n Leafs Ice Chips: What’s behind Nylander’s season low ice time? Toronto’s William Nylander logged a season-low 16:37 of ice time in Tuesday’s win over the Panthers, and finished without a shot or a point. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on the forward’s status, as well as who might still be on the outside looking in come Thursday in Carolina. <\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n The Leafs beat the Panthers 4-1 on Tuesday in their first meeting since last year\u2019s playoffs. <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a big one,\u201d said winger Bobby McMann<\/a>, who posted two assists. \u201cObviously there\u2019s a bit of history here. It\u2019s just something that we can build off of and take that energy and ride that momentum.\u201d <\/p>\n Toronto outshot Florida 31-26. It was only the third time Toronto has outshot a team by five or more this season, and the first time it\u2019s happened since Oct. 29. <\/p>\n \u201cWe should have this mindset every f–king night, how hard we f–king played tonight,\u201d Berube told the players in the dressing room after the game. \u201cThe puck battles, the aggressiveness, the numbers on the puck, the physicality we played with, the directness, that\u2019s f-king good hockey. We\u2019re a good f–king team. Play that way and we can beat anybody. Trust me. Great f–king job.\u201d<\/p>\n Berube felt the Leafs played one of their fastest-paced games of the season.<\/p>\n There were a lot of smiles during Wednesday\u2019s practice as the team did one structure drill and some shooting drills. <\/p>\n \u201cEnergy\u2019s been really good,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI think the guys being together on the road has really been good for us, you know, just them being together at dinners, things like that, being around each other. The bench has been good and the room. Energy\u2019s been good. Even this morning in a practice after a game, you know, I like the energy out there today.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs have won three out of four games to start this season-long road trip and have climbed out of the basement of the Eastern Conference. Are they turning a corner? <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if we\u2019ve turned a corner, but we\u2019re on the right track,\u201d said centre Scott Laughton<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to gain traction when you\u2019re kind of winning one, losing one. You string a couple together, you get some momentum in this league, and it does you a lot [of] good.\u201d<\/p>\n This is the first time the Leafs have won consecutive games since a three-game win streak to start November. <\/p>\n the Leafs are moving the puck a lot quicker, especially off opposition errors <\/p>\n Matthews just ran out of a room on the side but this was a great look pic.twitter.com\/haSnNl6OWk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Are the Leafs turning a corner? ‘We’re on the right track’ As the Maple Leafs get set to end a six-game road trip in Carolina, mood around the club is positive as they have won three of their last four games, including a victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions from Florida. Despite the recent success, Toronto knows that they still have a lot of work to do. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Laughton scored his first goal of the season on Tuesday night. <\/p>\n \u201cIt hasn\u2019t come easy this year for me,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cHopefully this can give me a little spring in my step and create a little bit more offence.\u201d<\/p>\n The 31-year-old from Oakville, Ont. has been limited to eight games due to two separate injury absences. <\/p>\n Laughton actually credited yours truly, who had asked about the offensive drought during a pre-game media session, for sparking his breakthrough. <\/p>\n \u201cA little bit of relief,\u201d Laughton told TSN after the game<\/a>. \u201cYou got me going here, Mark, so thank you. I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n We can\u2019t take all the credit. Laughton\u2019s upbeat attitude has also helped him come through this trying time. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s probably one of the loudest players I\u2019ve been around, honestly, when it comes to being in the locker room and around the guys,\u201d said Knies. \u201cWe needed that energy, especially when he came back in our lineup [on Nov. 20]. I think it was important to have him in there and just constantly talking and bringing the fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughton reminds Berube of another glue guy, Pat Maroon, who he won a Stanley Cup with in St. Louis in 2019. <\/p>\n \u201cBrings spirit to your team,\u201d the coach said. <\/p>\n Laughton, who served as the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> dressing room DJ prior to being traded to Toronto in March, is now contributing to the Leafs playlist.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty hardcore,\u201d Knies said of Laughton\u2019s musical taste. \u201cIt\u2019s just like a lot of rap and you see him [with his] head bobbing a little bit. It\u2019s kind of funny, but it\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs have been playing the 1982 song \u2018Come on Eileen\u2019 by Dexys Midnight Runners after wins lately and, apparently, Laughton was involved with that choice. <\/p>\n \u201cIt must be Laughty, but I\u2019m not sure,\u201d said Knies. <\/p>\n Laughton was not giving away much. <\/p>\n \u201cI think that one stays in the room,\u201d he told TSN with a smile.<\/p>\n Laughton’s energy, ‘pretty hardcore’ music taste has Leafs room jumping Scott Laughton got his first goal of the season in Toronto’s win Tuesday night, much to the excitement of his Leafs teammates. Since his arrival late last season, Laughton has ingratiated himself with the group, and has had the guys laughing at his jokes, and dancing to his music. <\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n Troy Stecher<\/a> called his shot on the first goal of his Leafs career. Sort of. <\/p>\n \u201cI told Cowan and [Nick] Robertson I was going to get one, and I actually did,\u201d the 5-foot-10 right-shot defenceman said with a smile after opening the scoring on Tuesday night. \u201cThe problem is I tell myself that every game. I tell somebody that.\u201d<\/p>\n Why? <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cJust fake it til you make it type of thing. \u2018Give me the puck, I\u2019m going to score!\u2019 and then most often I\u2019m going off the glass and out.\u201d<\/p>\n Stecher added an assist and finished plus-four with four blocked shots while playing more than 24 minutes on Tuesday. <\/p>\n Stecher, who is riding a three-game point streak, has hit the ground running since being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> on Nov. 15. The 31-year-old felt he had no choice but to grab firm hold of the opportunity with the Leafs. <\/p>\n \u201cSeventh team of my career, you know, what do I have to lose?\u201d he told TSN during a second intermission interview on Tuesday night. \u201cCareer, in a sense, in my mind, is kind of on the line, and you either show up and you play or you fail and you sink. Just trying to leave it all out there and, so far, it\u2019s been going well, but no time for complacency.\u201d<\/p>\n After starting in a third-pair role, Stecher is now logging big minutes beside Jake McCabe<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cHe is playing with a ton of confidence right now,\u201d said Berube. \u201cHe is very composed. He and McCabe look like they have instant chemistry right now, which is great. They are moving the puck extremely well. When you talk about pace, Stecher plays with pace out there. He closes on people, he skates, and he gets up the ice. He is doing a lot of good things.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs are currently missing their two top right-shot defencemen with no timeline available for the return of Brandon Carlo<\/a> and Chris Tanev<\/a>. <\/p>\n Stecher called his shot on first Leafs goal … sort of Troy Stecher got his first goal for the Maple Leafs Tuesday night after the team claimed him off waivers November 15th. He reflects scoring the goal and the reaction he got from the team, and his new teammates rave about what they like about the 31-year old journeyman. <\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n Stecher picked up an assist when he flipped a puck into the neutral zone after Nicolas Roy<\/a> won a defensive-zone draw in the first period. McMann recovered the loose puck and fed Dakota Joshua<\/a> who scored to give Toronto a 2-0 lead. <\/p>\n \u201cCaber and I [were getting set for] a D-zone draw and kind of just looked at each other and [with] three big boys that all can skate, it\u2019s just get the puck into the neutral zone and let them hunt it down,\u201d Stecher said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been playing downhill, it seems like, which is a benefit for anybody. It just makes the game that much easier. They\u2019ve been doing a really good job.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy (one goal, three assists in his first 20 games) and Joshua (two goals, three assists in his first 23 games) both got off to slow starts in their first season with the Leafs. McMann has also endured some quiet stretches.<\/p>\n But the trio has taken off together in the last two games. The line has generated four 5-on-5 goals and Roy has also potted a power-play marker as part of Toronto\u2019s second unit. <\/p>\n It looks like the Leafs finally have an identity line coming together. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re just on it,\u201d said Berube. \u201cJoshua and McMann have been really good on the walls in our zone. Roy does a good job of being underneath and supporting. They get the puck, and when they go down into the offensive zone, whether it is on an attack or they have to forecheck, they are heavy. They\u2019re doing a good job with their sticks. They\u2019re on people, and then they hang onto pucks in the offensive zone. They\u2019re getting to the net and doing a good job. They\u2019ve been really effective. It\u2019s very important. They take a lot of D-zone faceoffs. I match them up against [top] people at times on the road. That big, heavy line really sets the tone for our team.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Big, heavy line really sets the tone’: Do Leafs finally have an identity line? With Toronto’s third line of Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua stepping up the last two games, the linemates spoke about their growing chemistry on the ice while head coach Craig Berube shared how important the trio is to the team’s recent success. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n