TORONTO – Craig Berube learn his gamers the riot act after a delayed response to a unclean hit that in the end ended their captain’s season.
The Maple Leafs are taking part in out the string in a marketing campaign that began with Stanley Cup speak. The staff is now at the very least making a degree of sticking up for one another — even when it’s too little, too late within the standings.
Morgan Rielly dropped the gloves so as to add to a handful of profession NHL fights in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders after goaltender Joseph Woll was bumped. The bout adopted a pair of hard-fought highway video games on the heels of star centre Auston Matthews being felled by a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Geese defenceman Radko Gudas final week.
The 4 different Toronto skaters on the ice Thursday didn’t act within the rapid aftermath of that headline-grabbing altercation, however got here out onerous for the third interval, together with the primary skilled battle from rookie winger Easton Cowan, in what ended as a 6-4 comeback victory.
Toronto then misplaced to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in a Saturday shootout that noticed blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson get offended and defend Woll earlier than a stick-together 4-2 victory over the Wild in Minnesota on a back-to-back.
The Maple Leafs, nonetheless, have been torched by media, followers and even gamers from different groups, specifically Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk on his podcast with brother Matthew of the Florida Panthers, within the interim for not doing something with Matthews mendacity on the ice in agony.
Associated Movies
Rielly took accountability for not instantly stepping up towards Gudas, who was suspended 5 video games for a success that resulted in a torn MCL in Matthews’ left knee.
Get breaking Nationwide information
Get breaking Canada information delivered to your inbox because it occurs so you will not miss a trending story.
“It’s all people,” stated Berube, the Maple Leafs head coach. “All of them ought to have been in there straight away. However I believe that they’ve clearly realized from it, and it’s a distinction now.”
The veteran defenceman didn’t blink Tuesday following a sequence that was far much less extreme, going toe-to-toe with Islanders centre Kyle MacLean within the second interval.
“One thing that we’ve talked about prior to now,” stated Rielly, who was assessed an additional two-minute penalty for cross-checking. “And we’ve talked about lately.”
Berube has seen a distinct mentality from the membership since Matthews went down.
“It’s a terrific job by him getting in there and sticking up for Joseph,” he added of Rielly. “That message has acquired throughout.”
Berube stated following the morning skate that the damage and subsequent lack of response was a “wake-up name” for his group.
However why did it take dropping Toronto’s former 69-goal man to get these juices flowing?
“It’s query,” Woll stated. “The previous few days, previous few video games have been actually nice seeing our staff try this. From the time I’ve been right here, I really feel like we’ve had guys that rise up for our teammates, and that hasn’t been a problem.
“Everybody actually cares lots about one another on this room.”
Maple Leafs ahead Steven Lorentz, who scored his staff’s solely objective Tuesday, recommended Rielly’s efforts Tuesday.
“Having one another’s again has been a giant a part of the talks pre-game,” he stated. “Ensuring we’re linked on the market as a gaggle.”
He added the gamers are additionally conscious of what’s been stated since Matthews noticed his season finish.
“We’d be mendacity if we stated we don’t hear it,” Lorentz defined. “Typically it takes a chat from the coach, slightly little bit of yelling for the blokes to get up and determine it out. We had a whole lot of sit-down talks, and we seemed within the mirror slightly bit to get to this spot that we’ve performed these previous few video games.
“It hasn’t been constant sufficient, and it’s been good to see these previous few video games. It’s not about going on the market and combating, but when a man takes a run at a man in your staff, it’s about having the freedom to stay up.”
BABY DUTY
Ekman-Larsson returned to the lineup after lacking Sunday’s recreation in Minnesota and Tuesday’s morning skate to be spouse, Maja, who delivered their second youngster — and second boy — on Monday.
“Not a whole lot of sleep, nevertheless it’s been nice,” stated Ekman-Larsson, who performed a game-high 25:06 towards New York. “Wifey had been battling, and a few robust nights, however she’s been unbelievable.”
TAKING HIS CHANCE
Maple Leafs winger Benoit-Oliver Groulx created the turnover that led to Lorentz’s breakthrough within the second. The 26-year-old has 4 factors, together with three objectives, in 5 video games since being referred to as up from the American Hockey League.
“Finished a whole lot of good issues,” Berube stated. “Not simply the factors and the objectives, it’s the opposite aspect of the sport … he’s very good and in place, does job. He’s performed extraordinarily nicely.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 18, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
