Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube and the team bench during NHL hockey action against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Toronto, Oct. 12.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
We are already seeing some differences within the Maple Leafs, particularly in head coach Craig Berube. He takes a more direct approach in publicly assessing players than the guy who came before him.
While Sheldon Keefe would occasionally criticize someone – more often than not the team – but he would also often backpedal the next day as if to soothe bruised egos.
Not sure we are going to see much of that any more.
This week Berube said he needs more from Pontus Holmberg after propping up the Swedish centre during preseason and he also made Max Pacioretty a healthy scratch for the first two times in his career.
Pacioretty and Nicholas Robertson were probably the Maple Leafs’ most dynamic players during the preseason.
Berube has preached about harder, more physical play and through five games that has begun to take shape and is welcome.
Toronto is 3-2 as it heads into Monday night’s game at Scotiabank Arena against division rival Tampa Bay.
It is the team’s second tough game in a row after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers.
That one was much closer than the score would indicate – the Rangers padded the score with a pair of empty-net goals.
Anthony Stolarz was excellent again in Toronto’s crease but was outplayed by counterpart Igor Shesterkin, who made 34 saves.
“We had looks that just didn’t go in,” Berube lamented. “We couldn’t find the back of the net.”
It wasn’t exactly playoff-style hockey but it came close to that sort of an effort and so likely will the matchup with the Lightning.
There are a few things good and bad to at least bring up.
It looks as though the NHL’s Atlantic Division may be more competitive than in recent years. It is very early but seven of the eight teams are within four points of each other. The Ottawa Senators look stronger and the Detroit Red Wings are eighth now but showed promise before they faded last year.
Toronto is just 2 for 16 on the power play after it went 1 for 21 in a first-round loss to the Boston Bruins in the 2023-24 playoffs. That will come around once the current units share more ice time together.
Defenceman Timothy Liljegren, who signed a two-year US$6-million contract this summer, has been a healthy scratch in four games and appears headed for the trading block. He has fallen in and out of favour several times and is on the wrong side again.
Joseph Woll has yet to suit up after sustaining a groin injury during preseason and, while he has just returned to practice, no timetable has been offered. Although he has played well when healthy his durability was a question mark entering training camp and is even more of one now.
That has allowed Stolarz to see steady action and he has been a revelation. The 6-foot-6 netminder is 2-2 but has a .937 save percentage.
Between them, Stolarz and backup Dennis Hildeby have allowed just 11 goals.
Toronto fell behind New York 2-0 on Saturday but had plenty of chances to forge a tie. William Nylander was stopped twice on breakaways by Shesterkin. The Maple Leafs’ lone goal was scored by Auston Matthews, his second this season. William Nylander leads the team with three while Mitch Marner and Max Domi have five points each.
The team has begun to adjust to Berube and him to it.
“I’m dealing with it the best I can, I just work,” the 35-year-old Pacioretty said after Saturday’s morning skate. “I’m at this stage of my career for a reason. Would I rather be playing? Of course, anyone would rather be playing, but at the same time, I know I can help the team, even when I’m not playing. I had a good workout out there and I’ll just keep working on my game.”
Berube said earlier in the week that it was his decision to send Pacioretty to the press box but not chastise him.
“We have guys, we have extra players, and not everybody can play every night, that’s the bottom line,” Berube said. “He’s been fine when he’s played, but I have to make decisions as a coach, and I’m going to make those that I think are the best for the team.”