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The Toronto Maple Leafs shifted Max Domi from the second-line winger position to the third-line center spot in the second period of their 6-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round series. And that adjustment will stick when both teams clash for Game 2.
"Max is good about playing wherever, wing, center. He's done both all season, and it's an easy switch for him," Maple Leafs head coach Craif Berube explained. "I mean, it's not that much of a conversation, to be honest with you. He's good with whatever we need."
Pontus Holmberg and Domi will flip spots, with Holmberg skating with John Tavares and William Nylander.
The Maple Leafs exploded for three power-play goals in Game 1, but Ottawa held court with the game at 5-on-5. When Domi skated with Tavares and Nylander, the trio had an expected goals share of 10 percent in 6:51, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. When Holmberg was moved to the line, that improved to 59 percent in 3:09.
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How Mitch Marner's 'Calmness, Confidence' Helped Maple Leafs Shine In Game 1 Win Over SenatorsMitch Marner shimmied left and right before flipping the puck over Linus Ullmark's shoulder and celebrating his first goal of the playoffs with his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates. Berube addressed a number of things in his media availability following practice on Monday, including.
* Why Maple Leafs starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz missed practice.
* The need to improve at 5-on-5.
* Dealing with Senators forward Ridly Greig, who wasn't suspended for his crosscheck of John Tavares.
Q: What's up with Stolarz?
Nothing, rest. Yeah, he's all good.
Q: Was he always going to get this practice off or is that a reaction to workload?
It's something we talk to the goalies about and what they feel they need and what they want to do.
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'He Made Big Saves': How Anthony Stolarz Won Game 1 Of The Goalie Battle Against Senators' Linus UllmarkAnthony Stolarz showed up and showed out against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, which the Toronto Maple Leafs won commandingly, 6-2. Q: What does it do to the group just to have a guy like him back there? It's a 6-2 game, but he really stepped up?
Well, goalies always give everybody confidence, right? But, you know, more than anything, I think, you need saves from your goalies, and they've been doing it all year, and it gives your group confidence.
Q: What improvements did you look at this morning?
Well, we've got to protect the slot better than we did. I thought in the second period they had a few opportunities there. After the power plays, we're a little loose. We've got to do a better job there. Power plays and penalty kills take a little rhythm out of the game a little bit. But I'd like to see a little more hunt and hounding on the forecheck.
Q: (Matthew)Knies was saying it's annoying seeing Greig, crosscheck Tavares, slide into Stolarz. What's the key to dealing with this guy? Because the guys are going to want to retaliate as this goes on.
Are they?
Q: Human nature. Maybe they won't?
Well, no. And you're right. That's, you know, like, listen, that's part of playoff hockey. I mean, that stuff's going to happen, and you've got to be disciplined as best you can. and we're going to keep preaching it. The league, the referees, they'll take care of that stuff. That's your job (media).
Q: You played in the game. How hard is it not to retaliate?
How hard?
Q: Yeah, from your experience.
Well, I didn't do a very good job of retaliating *laughs*. It can be difficult for sure. It's, you know, I mean, it's human nature. But, you know, we did a good job of it last night for the most part. Things break out at the end of the game and stuff like that. But you just got to keep preaching it. And they got to understand how important it is. We got to play hard between the whistles. We got to keep being physical. We got to make it difficult for them as best we can. And, you know, that's got to be our mentality here. And just stay composed. I get it. I get it. But in the end, you're not going to really help the team. Now, there's always situations that arise, and, you know, we'll deal with them as we go along.
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Report: Senators' Ridly Greig Will Not Receive Supplemental Discipline For High Cross-Check On John TavaresToronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said to "Call the league" after being asked about Ridly Greig's cross-check to John Tavares' head, and The Athletic's Chris Johnston did that. Q: You told us to call the league, and the league's not going to suspend Greig.
No, I didn't think they would.
Q: No. Yeah, so, like I said, the league will take care of that stuff and the referees.I guess if you make them pay on the power play as well.
Well, that's true. We've got to do a good job there, and we did last game. And, you know, when we have the opportunities to, you know, make them pay on the power play, You've got to keep trying to do that. It's important.
Q: Do the referee supervisors still meet with the two coaches before the series?
Yeah, they meet with the guys. Yeah, they meet with, you know, coaches or GMs or whatever, you know. We talk to them, and they're great. You know, you can talk to them any time. They're always good about that. So, like, listen, they're watching. You know, they understand, and they're doing the best that they can do. to monitor all the stuff.
Q: In your day, did you ever see a ref need a piece of paper to remind him?
I didn't know they carried a notepad in their back pocket. Yeah, you know, trying to figure it all out. There's a lot of stuff going on there. But, you know, again, like we just got to stay disciplined and composed here. Just go initiate and play hard. That's a big part of it, being physical. I thought we were physical already in the game. We've got to keep doing that.
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'I Can't Say Enough About Matthew Knies and JT In Those Areas': Maple Leafs Explode For 3 Power-Play Goals To Down Senators In Game 1The Toronto Maple Leafs exploded for three power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Q: Are you seeing signs that Scott Laughton maybe is just getting his footing under him?
Yeah, well, he's been coming for a bit, I thought. Like, you know, I think he feels real comfortable with the guys he's playing with. Found some chemistry there. And, you know, I really liked his game lately. And I thought that line was really good for us last night.
Q: Matt Knies has had the most ice time out of any of the skaters. What about the way he plays gives you the confidence to get him out there that much?
Well, I think with power play, penalty kill, and, you know, five-on-five play, Like, he's around, you know, the minutes are a little high for him last night. I probably got to do a better job of, you know, pulling that back a bit. I used him at the end of the game a little bit more than probably I wanted to.
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'Most Of You Probably Picked Toronto To Beat Us': Travis Green's Senators Embrace Underdog Role vs. Favored Maple LeafsOttawa Senators head coach Travis Green says he doesn't have to preach to his club that they are the underdog in their playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Q: What did you like most about that fourth line last night for you guys?
Just the checking and the hounding. I think they're a difficult line to play against. You know, they forecheck well, and they're on top of people, and there's no room out there when they're playing and they're responsible defensively. And they've been a good line for us for a little while. now.
Q: The power-play goals all came pretty quickly off the start of plays. Do you think that's a sign of confidence or a good pre-scout?
Well, I think it's a little of both, but I think we're looking to attack right away, and that's a good mentality, in my opinion. Playoffs, pucks to the net, pucks to the net. That's what you've got to think about. I thought early on in the game, 5-on-5, we missed the net too much on some opportunities where we could have had more sustained pressure. We just missed the net. Then it's out of the zone right away. Instead of hitting the net, getting people at the net, creating chaos there and creating more O-zone time and opportunities. Power play did a good job of just getting it to the net right away. You've got Knies and Tavares there. They've been doing a great job there all year. We've just got to keep doing the same thing.
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