Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) battles for the puck with Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) in front of goaltender Cam Talbot (39) during the first period at Scotiabank Arena on April 17.Nick Turchiaro/Reuters
At the start of training camp each year, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ star players are brought out to a raised podium, where one by one they answer the media’s questions with some semblance of what has been learned from previous playoff disappointments, and, of course, why this season will end differently.
Given that there’s always a full winter and six months of NHL regular season to plow through until the first shot at redemption arrives each spring, the collective patience of both players and fans is put through the wringer on annual basis.
But with another regular season in the books following Thursday night’s 4-3 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings, the full focus of the Maple Leafs and their expectant fan base can finally turn to the start of the playoffs this weekend and, of course, the Battle of Ontario.
That certainly seemed to the prevailing attitude around the hockey club Thursday. With much of the Leafs’ 2024-25 to-do list all checked off – division title, home-ice advantage through at least two rounds, a first 100-point season for Mitch Marner in the bag – Toronto mostly sleepwalked through their win against Detroit, the team’s fifth straight victory.
With little on the line, only Auston Matthews’s 33rd goal of the season gave the fans an opportunity to stir from their slumber early on, before Philippe Myers showed some dexterous hands in the third period for his second of the season. But Detroit, having missed the playoffs for a ninth straight year, missed their chance to ice the win with the Leafs’ net empty. Chris Tanev promptly forced overtime with his third of the season with 1.8 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Scott Laughton to grab the winner 56 seconds into the extra frame.
“I think it’s nice to see our game coming together going into the playoffs,” Myers said. “And obviously the regular season doesn’t matter now, so you have to turn the page and get ready to go.”
Avoiding injury was of course among the biggest concerns Thursday night, but head coach Craig Berube wasn’t about to wrap his stars in cotton wool. So he went with the same lineup that clinched the division crown in Buffalo on Tuesday, apart from in net, where Joseph Woll got the start over Anthony Stolarz, who has won his eight previous starts.
Despite a second period that Berube described as “sloppy,” the team managed to grind away right until the end, earning a 52nd win of the season – the second-highest total in team history.
Matthews, who scored for the third consecutive game, is encouraged by what he has seen from his team of late, feeling that the buy-in to Berube’s more vertical style of play bodes well for the upcoming playoff run.
“I think we’ve had a good stretch over the last couple weeks,” the captain said. “I just think the style of play that we’ve been playing is suitable for the postseason, just being direct, making sure that we’re fore-checking well, taking care of the puck when we have to, just doing the right things in both ends.”
Of course, given the “bloodbath” that Stolarz has predicted in the first all-Ontario playoff matchup in 21 years, having a healthy collection of bodies may prove vital. Berube admitted he is “very confident” that defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe, and forward David Kampf, who have missed the past few games, will all be available for Sunday’s series opener.
Others took their opportunity of a more relaxed atmosphere following the morning skate to reminisce about childhood memories of the Battle of Ontario, which was contested four times in five seasons between 2000-04, with the Leafs winning all four series.
“I was pretty young, but it’s long time ago,” said Max Domi, whose father, Tie, played in each of those series, regularly bringing his young son to the rink for games and practices. “I think it’s definitely a heated rivalry, it’s there, but it’s something new and we’re looking forward to it.”
John Tavares, who also grew up a Leaf fan, recalled Joe Nieuwendyk’s series winner against the Senators in the 2004 first round, as well as goaltender Curtis Joseph accidentally wiping out referee Mick McGeough in a fit of pique during their 2002 second-round encounter.
“The intensity, I thought, was pretty unbelievable,” he said. “Obviously, games were really tight, series were really tight; all the makings of great hockey, great series.”
Tavares finished the season with 38 goals – his second-highest total during his seven years in Toronto – but his future with the club is up in the air heading into unrestricted free agency this summer. Naturally, he would love nothing more than to cap his bounceback season than by adding more memorable playoff moments, such as the overtime series clincher he scored two years ago against Tampa Bay.
“This is what you work for all summer long, coming to training camp and earn a place in the playoffs, and certainly for us to win division, put ourselves in a good spot, we’re excited, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Morgan Rielly, the longest-tenured Leaf on the current squad, is no stranger to intense playoff series. Set to embark on his ninth postseason with Toronto, Rielly has enjoyed heated battles over the years against the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as another all-Canadian affair in 2021, when the Leafs were upended by the Montreal Canadiens.
As he admits, things like winning the division are nice, but they don’t carry much import once the puck is dropped.
“For us it’s just about doing what we can over the next few days to prepare,” Rielly said.
“Obviously, we’re happy with where we’re at in the standings, but ultimately, that doesn’t matter. Once you start playing, no one cares what seed you are, or whatever. You just need to go out there and win, and that’s what we’re focused on.”