TORONTO – Craig Berube wished extra life and power.
The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach felt his gamers delivered. The consequence, nevertheless, was extra of the identical.
And now a crew that did properly to understand a brand new system within the first half of the NHL season is going through its first actual bumps within the highway.
“The sport was proper there,” Berube stated after Toronto fell 4-1 to the Dallas Stars on house ice Tuesday. “We’re not getting the bounces, I don’t suppose, however we’re not executing ok with the puck.”
The Leafs (27-16-2) dropped a 3rd consecutive recreation in regulation for the primary time in 2024-25 after Thursday’s 6-3 highway loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and Saturday’s 3-0 house setback to the Vancouver Canucks, who solely arrived on the town some seven hours earlier than puck drop because of weather-related journey delays.
Toronto’s lack of offence the final two outings is a mildly regarding signal for a roster led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares that’s traditionally used to filling the online.
“We’re going by means of adversity proper now,” stated Matthews, in his first season as captain. “As a lot as you like to not undergo that, it’s crucial generally. These are the moments the place we’ve bought to come back collectively much more and keep on with one another and work our manner out of it.”
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Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson stated sticking to the sport plan is vital.
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“Total this yr now we have been taking part in some good hockey,” he stated. “We simply must get again to the stuff that works. We all know that now we have it on this room. We’ve simply set to work slightly bit more durable when issues are usually not going our manner.”
Tavares stated Berube — a Stanley Cup winner in his first season with Toronto — and the coach’s defensively sound, north-south method has been good for a bunch trying to break by means of within the playoffs.
“We’ve simply bought to stick with it and belief what we’re doing,” stated the veteran centre. “Particularly with the kind of expertise now we have.”
The Leafs’ energy play, which entered 2-for-12 over its final 5 video games, was fruitless on its two possibilities towards the stingy Stars, however had some beauty within the first interval — together with two posts — after Matthews gave his crew an early lead.
Dallas, in the meantime, scored on two of its three man-advantage alternatives.
“It was a special-teams battle,” Berube stated. “I assumed 5-on-5, fairly even recreation, fairly tight recreation, not a lot occurring both manner.”
Matthews stated his group ought to be capable of excel at each ends of the rink.
“We’ve bought sufficient talent and pace,” he stated. “We’ve bought to do job defending and be linked in all three zones.”
Followers at Scotiabank Area booed their crew within the third interval for a second straight recreation — one thing Berube had no situation with.
“They pay good cash,” he stated. “They need to see us win.”
“It’s irritating shedding,” Ekman-Larsson added. “We really feel the identical.”
WHISTLE ISSUES
The Leafs had been solely assessed three minor penalties, together with two on Tavares — hooking and slashing — that had him shaking his head within the field.
“Didn’t like them,” he stated of the calls. “However on the finish of the day, it’s out of your management. We’ve bought to discover a technique to dig deep after which simply proceed to play by means of it. Solely a lot you’ll be able to discuss to the officers about. Finally you’ve bought to go on the market and play and do your job and execute higher.”
PRAISE FOR TANNY
Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll and Stars counterpart Jake Oettinger, who’re shut associates, had been at dinner Monday when the subject shifted to gritty defenceman Chris Tanev.
The hard-nosed blueliner was a commerce deadline acquisition by Dallas final season earlier than serving to the membership make the Western Convention last. The shot-blocking aficionado then joined Toronto over the summer time.
“One in all my favorite defenceman I ever performed behind,” Oettinger stated earlier than Tuesday’s recreation. “A goalie’s dream.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 14, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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