Sheldon Keefe on the concern level about the Leafs finishing the regular season on a 4-game losing slide: "I couldn't tell you the score of any of those games, including the one we just finished"
Sheldon Keefe praised Auston Matthews for his 69-goal season and expressed optimism about the team's future. [ more ]
They're in -- Maple Leafs officially clinch a playoff spot for the eighth consecutive season
The Maple Leafs have clinched a playoff spot for the eighth consecutive season.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including significant injuries and underperforming players, the Maple Leafs managed to secure a playoff spot comfortably. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Leafs overcoming a sleepy start in Montreal: "We started playing with a lot more pace and simplicity [in the second period]... When we do that, we are a lot to deal with"
The team showed improvement by playing with more pace and simplicity after a slow start.
The coach emphasized the importance of maintaining good habits, detail, and health for the remaining regular season games. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on Joseph Woll's performance in the loss to Tampa: "You probably need a save on one of those three goals to keep us going, especially with the quality of goaltending at the other end"
The Maple Leafs' strong defensive performance in the first period was highlighted, but mistakes were capitalized on by the Lightning.
The penalty kill was praised as outstanding, particularly for facing a tough challenge against the top special teams in the league. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Maple Leafs' 3-2 win in Montreal: "The Kampf line with McMann and Knies was outstanding, and the Dewar line gave us lots of really good shifts, too"
The Maple Leafs showed resilience and strong team effort in their win over the Canadiens.
Bobby McMann's performance was highlighted for his confidence and strong play. [ more ]
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. St. Louis Blues - Preview, Projected Lines & TV Broadcast Info
The return of John Tavares for the Maple Leafs' game, Marshall Rifai's NHL debut, and the team's current winning streak.
Coach Keefe emphasizing the importance of not underestimating the opponent, preparing young players for debut, and the team's performance without key players like Morgan Rielly. [ more ]
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning - Preview, Projected Lines & TV Broadcast Info
Key Takeaway: The Maple Leafs close out the regular season focusing on individual milestones and staying healthy in a game with no significant stakes. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Leafs' penalty-filled 5-2 loss to Florida: "We played a terrific first period, and the game looks a lot worse than it is from there"
Taking too many penalties and lack of finishing opportunities caused Maple Leafs' loss despite good defensive play. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Leafs' home fans buzzing whenever Auston Matthews (69 goals) touched the puck: "That was a major distraction... It doesn't help us with what we are trying to accomplish on the ice, but it is exciting. I get it."
Keefe emphasized the importance of the players' decision-making to turn the game around. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on sending his stars out on a late PP in a 6-1 game vs. Philadelphia: "I had no intention of doing it.. We had tired people... I have to manage my team and my bench"
The Maple Leafs' coach, Sheldon Keefe, praised the team's performance, highlighting the importance of an early goal and solid defending.
Keefe mentioned the significance of goaltending in the game and emphasized Tyler Bertuzzi's offensive contributions. [ more ]
General consensus is down on Brad Treliving's first trade deadline with the Maple Leafs. Is it justified? - MLHS Podcast Ep. 61
Brad Treliving's first trade deadline as GM of the Maple Leafs focused on depth adds, not major acquisitions.
The MLHS Podcast covers reactions to recent losses, acquisitions of players like Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson, and the importance of improving penalty-killing. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe after the Maple Leafs' 4-1 loss to Boston: "We did a lot of good things, but you can't just do good things and expect to beat Boston... You have to do great things"
The Bruins are a tough team to play against
Special teams play a major role in the game [ more ]
Bruce Cassidy on the Leafs spreading out their top talent onto three lines: "I think it's going to help Toronto... Maybe the individual numbers aren't as good, but there is a better balance"
Checking well and staying disciplined while being opportunistic in scoring are keys against the Maple Leafs.
Splitting up top offensive talent across multiple lines can present challenges and advantages for teams. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on Ilya Samsonov rising from the ashes to win six of his last eight Leafs starts: "It's a great story for sure... I don't look at it as that big of a thing just because I have always believed in the goalie"
The Maple Leafs improved their record to 30-16-8 with a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Matthew Knies made significant plays, drawing penalties and contributing to the team's success. [ more ]
Are we seeing signs the Maple Leafs are deeper at forward than it's appeared? - MLHS Podcast Ep. 58
The podcast discusses the fallout from the Morgan Rielly suspension, the team's secondary forward group, and the potential of a 'second wave' of young forward talent in the next few seasons. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Leafs bouncing back from a tough first period to defeat the Stars: "We had to play a lot harder... We certainly did that, and the game flipped"
The Maple Leafs overcame a slow start to win against the Dallas Stars.
The bottom six players played a significant role in the victory. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Maple Leafs' frustrating loss to the Islanders: "Played well enough to win but did just enough to lose... This is the NHL, and the second goal is peewee stuff"
The Maple Leafs played well enough to win the game but made crucial mistakes that led to their loss.
Sheldon Keefe was frustrated with the power-play unit's mistake and emphasized that such errors should not happen in the NHL. [ more ]
"It's wild, but the one thing we can say for certain about the Leafs' defense: The Benoit - McCabe pairing is pretty good" - Anthony Petrielli discusses the blue line, Bertuzzi, and the bottom six on Sportsnet 590
Tyler Bertuzzi's production is disappointing, but his style of play is valuable for the Maple Leafs.
Bertuzzi's presence has had a positive impact on William Nylander's performance. [ more ]
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Winnipeg Jets - Preview, Projected Lines and TV Broadcast Info
The Maple Leafs are seeking a better start in the rematch against the Winnipeg Jets after being outplayed in the opening 20 minutes of their previous game.
The Leafs lost Calle Jarnkrok to a broken knuckle and will insert Ryan Reaves onto the fourth line with Bobby McMann unavailable due to injury. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Leafs entering the break with a great win in Winnipeg: "We were really good in lots of areas -- at five-on-five, on special teams, the goaltending, and the depth scoring with Ryan Reaves getting us going"
The Maple Leafs' win required a lot of work and perseverance.
Ryan Reaves had a strong performance, contributing with a goal and energy. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe after the Leafs' 6-4 loss in Vancouver: "For the most part, I thought we were the better team and did a lot of good things, but you can't spot them three and expect to win"
Sheldon Keefe after the Leafs held on to win 4-3 over Calgary: "One of the best third periods we've played maybe all season with the lead... Really proud of the guys tonight"
The Maple Leafs played a strong third period and closed out a win against the Calgary Flames.
Auston Matthews' goal in the first period was crucial in helping the team regroup and perform well for the rest of the game. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the Leafs' 5-3 loss to Colorado: "When MacKinnon's line is out there with Toews-Makar, the calibre of play isn't the NHL... It's another league, and I didn't think we handled it very well"
The Maple Leafs' coach, Sheldon Keefe, addressed the media following their loss to the Avalanche, expressing disappointment in the team's performance.
Keefe moved William Nylander up to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner's line to try and handle the Avalanche's top players better. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on his star forwards climbing the Maple Leafs' franchise record books: "I've been watching the Leafs my whole life... There have been some great players to come through here, but these guys are special"
The Maple Leafs' win over the Sharks was a good game for the team.
The team has found a groove and is feeling good about their recent performance. [ more ]
Sheldon Keefe on the 1,000-point milestone for John Tavares on Long Island: "We're just so happy for John... He's contributor on two massive goals, and with his dad in the building... Pretty special"
John Tavares' accomplishment of reaching 1,000 points in the NHL is a special moment for the Maple Leafs
The team had a mixed performance against the New York Islanders, but Tavares' milestone was a highlight [ more ]