Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

Game 1: Senators at Maple Leafs, Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Game 2: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Game 3: Maple Leafs at Senators, Thursday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Game 4: Maple Leafs at Senators, Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET; TBS/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
*Game 5: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
*Game 6: Maple Leafs at Senators, Thursday, May 1, TBD
*Game 7: Senators at Maple Leafs, Saturday, May 3, TBD

Archive

Lots to see here! Marner's 100th point. Matthews 400th goal. Leafs clinch 1st in the Atlantic.

The Maple Leafs have won seven of their last eight games after a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Leafs are 24-13-3 on the road this season. Toronto won the last meeting with Buffalo 6-3. source

Leafs can clinch the division with an OTL or better!

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Max Domi — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Pontus Holmberg — Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz — Scott Laughton — Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly — Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit — Chris Tanev
Dakota Mermis — Brandon Carlo

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (upper body), David Kampf (upper body), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (upper body)

Status report: Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said after the morning skate he expects Ekman-Larsson, a defenseman, to be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this weekend, but “you never know.” … McCabe, a defenseman, is uncertain to return before the regular-season finale Thursday.

With the 2024-25 regular season winding down and a playoff spot already secured, injured players Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe and David Kämpf will not make the trip with the Toronto Maple Leafs to Raleigh for Sunday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Maple Leafs will recall veteran journeyman defenceman Dakota Mermis from the American Hockey League and he will make his Leafs debut against the Hurricanes. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Calle Jarnkrok — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Max Domi — Nicholas Robertson
Pontus Holmberg — Scott Laughton — Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit — Chris Tanev
Philippe Myers — Dakota Mermis

Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed)

Status Report: Woll is expected to start after Stolarz made 15 saves in a 1-0 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs will need to overcome playing a defenseman short as they hope to inch themselves two points closer to an Atlantic Division regular-season title when they close out the season series on HNIC against the Canadiens (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet/CBC). source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Calle Jarnkrok -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Bobby McMann -- Max Domi -- Nicholas Robertson
Pontus Holmberg -- Scott Laughton -- Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit -- Chris Tanev
Philippe Myers

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed)

Status report: Demidov took part in the Canadiens optional morning skate but will not play; the forward signed a three-year entry level contract Tuesday. ... Ekman-Larsson, a defenseman, is day to day and will not play after being injured in a 4-3 overtime win at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. ... The Maple Leafs will play with 17 skaters (five defensemen) because of roster limitations under the NHL salary cap. ... McCabe took part in Toronto's optional morning skate after not practicing Friday, but the defenseman will miss his fourth straight game.

The Maple Leafs are looking to complete the season-series sweep against the Tampa Bay Lightning (two points behind, same games played) in a big four-point game that will go a long way in deciding the coming-down-to-the-wire Atlantic Division race (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet). source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
Scott Laughton — Max Domi — Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz — Pontus Holmberg — Nicholas Robertson

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Philippe Myers

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body)

Status report: The Maple Leafs will announce any additional lineup changes prior to pregame warmups.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll will start Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Anthony Stolarz received starts in consecutive games for the Maple Leafs, and will almost certainly get the nod for Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Aside from the goaltending change, the Maple Leafs will be running back the same lineup from Saturday’s 5-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jake McCabe and David Kampf have already been ruled out of the Maple Leafs’ next two games due to injuries. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Scott Laughton -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz -- Pontus Holmberg -- Nicholas Robertson

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Philippe Myers

Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body)

Sup. Here's some highlights.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will get the start Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Craig Berube confirmed. . . .

Toronto held an optional morning skate Saturday, with Jani Hakanpaa, Simon Benoit, Philippe Myers Steven Lorentz, Pontus Holmberg, Nick Robertson, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll and Stolarz among the participants. It was a true optional skate, with Myers getting shots up on Stolarz, while the forwards worked on routine shooting drills. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Scott Laughton -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz -- Pontus Holmberg -- Nicholas Robertson

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Philippe Myers

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body)

Status report: Van Riemsdyk will replace Kunin, a forward, after being a healthy scratch the past four games. ... McCabe, a defenseman, and Kampf, a forward, each is day to day after being injured during a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday; Myers will replace McCabe after being a healthy scratch the past 11 games and Robertson will replace Kampf after being a healthy scratch the past three games.

A goal-scoring binge has landed John Tavares league-wide recognition.

The Toronto Maple Leafs centre was named second star of the month on Tuesday, behind the Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel and ahead of St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.

Tavares found the back of the net a league-leading 13 times in March — the most by a player in any calendar month this season.

The scoring run was highlighted by a five-game streak that ended on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks.

In the biggest game of the regular season (so far), the Maple Leafs enter this four-point matchup against the Panthers with a two-point lead in the Atlantic Division race (7:30 p.m. EST, Sportsnet).

There is one more matchup between these two teams to come, but being four points ahead with seven games to go is a major difference compared to being tied on points with seven to play. To accomplish that four-point cushion, the Leafs will need to beat the Panthers in regulation, something they’ve done just once in the last six meetings. With the Panthers at the end of a three-in-four (second half of a back-to-back) and without some key pieces due to injury/suspension, this is a golden opportunity for the fully-healthy and rested Leafs, one they really need to take advantage of. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Scott Laughton -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Pontus Holmberg -- David Kampf -- Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe -- Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: Nicholas Robertson, Philippe Myers

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)

Status report: The Panthers did not hold a morning skate after a 3-2 overtime loss at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. ... Sturm is day to day after he left that game in the first period following a collision with linemate A.J. Greer. Coach Paul Maurice said after the game, "We'll get him looked at again (Wednesday). He didn't feel he could come back, so we'll get him assessed (Wednesday)." Nosek replaced him in the lineup ... Megna was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League. ... The Maple Leafs will use the same 18 skaters for the third straight game.

Leafs had a real win-win today outside of this game:

The Toronto Maple Leafs . . . are on the cusp of clinching spots in the post-season, however, fate isn't entirely in their hands just yet.

Here's how they could get the job done Sunday:

• Maple Leafs: If they defeat the Anaheim Ducks in any fashion AND the Montreal Canadiens lose to the Florida Panthers in any fashion. source

Montreal won today so no clinching a spot. But the Panthers lost, so there's a chance to get 3 point separation from Tampa and Florida in the Atlantic

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg — Max Domi — Scott Laughton
Steven Lorentz — David Kampf — Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: Philippe Myers, Nicholas Robertson

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)

Status report: Neither team will hold a morning skate.

What explains John Tavares’ goal-scoring bonanza this season?

On the one hand, it’s pretty simple: A world-class shooter is having the best shooting season of his NHL career — and in a contract year, no less.

Tavares has scored 33 goals on 19 percent shooting.

The timing is curious, and not only because Tavares is 34 now and in his 16th NHL season — a time, in other words, when he should be slowing down. It’s also odd because last season Tavares had the worst shooting season of his career: 29 goals in 80 games on 10 percent shooting and a mid-season dry spell that saw him score once in 13 games.

From one extreme to the other, then. But that doesn’t feel like the whole story.

Archive

The Kings are a tough team to play that keeps the goal totals low at both ends of the rink. The Leafs need some game breaking offence and a good performance in net tonight.

Pontus Holmberg is supposed to draw in per Craig Berube, the forward coming out is yet to be determined. Otherwise, the lines will likely be unchanged. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg — Max Domi — Nicholas Robertson
Scott Laughton — David Kampf — Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: Philippe Myers, Calle Jarnkrok

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)

Status report: Neither team will hold a morning skate. … Holmberg will play after being a healthy scratch for the past two games; Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube did not say who would come out of the lineup. … Stolarz could start in goal, Berube said Friday.

For the no-late-games crew

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is expected to start Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is electing to use the same lines from Tuesday’s 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Bobby McMann, John Tavares and William Nylander have been on fire lately, and it seems likely that Berube will be using this combination in the playoffs, with the Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner line firmly entrenched. source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
Scott Laughton — Max Domi — Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz — David Kampf — Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: Pontus Holmberg, Philippe Myers

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)