OverDrive - Masters on the Maple Leafs and Panthers' showdown, Marchand back in Toronto and the goaltending outlook on the team

Episode Date: April 2, 2025

TSN Maple Leafs Reporter Mark Masters joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Maple Leafs, Toronto's massive showdown against the Panthers, Brad Marchand's role on the roster, the team's goaltending in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and more.

That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos. Canada decides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available Friday afternoon, straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime. The candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum.

That just happened with Vashi Kapelos. Canada decides 2025. Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app. Here's Mark Baster, our Maple Leaf reporter. How would you describe it from that standpoint? Mark, is it a must win for the Leafs tonight? And if so, what would it mean to them? I think I agree with you. The Leafs got to win this game. It's not a must win of course because you know it's not a must win until it's a really must win but jeez like you just see the narrative coming out of this game if they somehow lose it you know Florida's

got their number they're in their head if they can't beat them without Aaron Eklat and Matthew Kachak when can they beat them. If Florida's really banged up right now they're scuffing along you know they played last night this is the end of three and four for them. The Panthers, Nico Sturms, the latest guy to go down for them. He's out tonight. Kulakov's out. Barkov missed some shifts last night. He came back in that game, but he's clearly not 100%. So they're going through it right now. This has been a tough stretch. And they've got to take advantage here. They've been off since Sunday, had a quick practice yesterday, 12 guys on the ice for the optional skate today.

Yeah, they got to show some killer instinct here tonight. More than anything is just jump on these guys, get a nice solid win, get your first win against the Panthers. This could be a playoff matchup in a few weeks. So, yeah, it does feel like a very important game. I'll put it that way for the Leafs tonight. So with that being said, Masters, with the third period that Auston Matthews had in Los Angeles would you expect him to be the guy to lead the charge as far as an emotional

start to the game and kind of get things going and if it's not him who would you expect that from? No, you expect it from him and you expect it from Mitch Marner in that line right? Like they got to drive the bus here. Assuming Barkov is, you know, even if he's not 100%, he's such a tough matchup, reigning selfie trophy winner. Barkov kept Matthews in that line pretty quiet here last month when the Panthers won 3-2 in this building.

So it's up for Matthews to kind of win that matchup. Not enough just to saw it off. You got to win that matchup so he can do his damage on the power play too but yeah for me it's Matthews it's Matthews Marder that top line that's who you're looking to to set the tone and lead the way tonight and it's the case it is probably most nights the goaltender gets another opportunity and Anthony Stollers we ran Craig Berube sound on his goaltending what he said today was interesting because it's not what he said previously folds. Did you get the same impression from the head coach? I just I thought what he said today was interesting because it's not what he said previously when he was asked about whether he would you know the question

today is could you do a goalie rotation or would you do a goalie rotation or playoffs and he said he would you know they're gonna contemplate it they're gonna look at it and he hasn't said that before he was asked about whether he wanted someone to become the number one guy or clearly emerge in the lead up to the playoffs. And he said, yeah, that's what he'd like. That was back in February at the end of February before a game in New York. And he said he's never done a rotation of playoffs. Obviously, it's pretty unorthodox. We saw Boston start last year's series with a rotation, but then quickly go to Jeremy Swainman. So I just thought it was interesting that he's being, you he's like yeah we're going to look at it you can understand why i mean both guys have never played this this much in their

careers both have seen their numbers dip uh... as the as the year has gone along here uh... neither guy has a playoff track record of course still or doesn't even have a playoff start although he was part of the family cup winning team last year and joseph will got four playoff starts on his resume but no game one so you can understand why they're at least looking at it i thought it was very interesting that you would be very open that yeah they're gonna think about this tonight you know i i think so are they the head right now he'd be the game

one third but i don't think he's completely distance himself from wall here i don't think there's a sizable captain in the two goalie don't think you can clearly say okay i feel really good at this guy's the number one it's going to play the whole series with mark masters at the bottom six forwards you know have been in a blender really throughout the season and it sounds as if they're going to go back to the same lines that had your domain lot in your croak and then you got home burg with camp

and lorenz how would you handicap the chances of those being the two lines the third and fourth line respectively come would you handicap the chances of those being the two lines, the third and fourth line respectively come game one of the playoffs? Yeah, I mean it sure feels like this is the lineup right now that you're looking at. I don't know what happens with Max Patoretti once we get to the playoffs, but it feels like this or some compilation of these six guys in the bottom six is where we're trending towards. It doesn't fill me with confidence I would say when

you look at some of the possible matchups on the other side in this division but right now that's what we're looking at. Jaren Croak I know he hasn't been thrilled with how he's played since he came back although he felt a little bit better at the end of that California trip. Max Domi of course it always seems like he gets pulled back to the middle. I wonder maybe will Scott Lawden end up in that C spot or it's just going to be more of a mix and match down the stretch with those two guys but sure feels like something like this is what we're going to see in game one when the playoffs get going. Well we'll see what we can expect tonight in terms of energy in the building Mark.

Are you sensing the build up? I mean puck drop is still about an hour away but you know it's a Wednesday night Florida Panthers playoff type intensity on the ice that's what we're hoping for what what do you think is gonna be the crowd's reaction to all of that tonight well I hope there's some there'll be some juice in the building you know multiple players have brought that up that they're expecting it to be pretty energized here obviously the Leafs were in California then they were also in New York and Nashville like they haven't played a ton at home here this is a big one the visual rival the

defending champs come to town you would hope you know obviously we this building has taken a taking a beating in the past and rightfully so but you'd hope that the fans are going to be engaged right from the start this is a playoff potential preview it's a big game um and the Leafs are coming off a pretty good trip in terms of picking up five or six points in California. So those players are certainly expecting it to be a little extra amp tonight. It's always for me kind of a wait-and-see with this building but you know I haven't felt it yet. Obviously I'm scared of the cold and the snow so I've been indoors

all day here in the arena but I'm sure we'll get a nice buzz coming up here once the fans at 730 starts a little extra time for people to maybe have a have a drink and get into it. Yeah, I like that I like that idea and Yeah, we'll see Brad Marchand as as a Florida Panther for the first time against the Maple Leafs I don't know if you got a chance to catch up with him earlier today, but you certainly will I'm sure after the game What what is this experience gonna be like for you someone that's covered him in Boston for so many years beating the Leafs scoring big goals

in this building as a Bruin. What do you expect that experience to feel like tonight? Yeah, Panthers didn't have a skate this morning because it's a back to back but I just walked by them on the way up to the press box and it's just so weird to see them in the red and the Florida colors and so we were robbed of a Marshaan scrum this morning because he that's always must kind of be there and he always has something fun to say so yeah and it's not just that you know he's playing against the Leafs in a different jersey but he's playing with

Sam Bennett like and Bennett had a big night in here the last time out two power play goals in that game in the 3-2 win. The Leafs didn't really have an answer for him and now you got those two together. Oliver Ackman-Larsen had that retaliation penalty that ended up being costly in the last game and the Leafs are really stressing discipline and I just wonder how they're going to walk that line tonight. They want to be aggressive, they want to initiate but Florida's DNA is seen to initiate, not

necessarily Toronto. So it's such a strange balance. And now Marshan even, you know, obviously Kachak is out and it's a different thing. And even Eklai can have some grit to him. But you just wonder now with Marshan on the other side, how much that's going to factor into some of these scrums. They're going to be trying to get at Stolarz after the whistle. We saw Bennett, you know, kind of poking away at a major career got in

there you know i just now march and just add a little extra spice to that so i'll be really really interested to see how the lead panel that tonight march and in just in general florida's going to try and grind this down turn it into their kind of game it you know prove a third they can be comfortable that one but i don't know it happy to see how we can hold Marchand and just that general tonight

Masters after the trade deadline The phrase the adjustment period the settling in period comes into play for players that have moved locations and moved teams How has it been for Carlo and Lawton? Do they look like they're kind of more settled? It is a different thing to go to a different team? How does it just look from the outside to you? Yeah, I mean, two different stories. It feels like Carlo kind of settled in even quicker, you know, obviously quicker than Lawton did. But Carlo, I don't know what more you could ask for from him. I just kind of look at the stats, 12 games into his Leafs career and he's right at the top of the list in terms of plus minus for them, even though he doesn't produce any offense. He's got the one assist. But, you know, I think he's right at the top of the list in terms of plus minus for them even though he doesn't produce any offense he's got the one assist but you

know I think he's delivered as advertised and guys were raving up raving about him today Bobby McVance like you can't get around this guy you know he's big his stick is amazing you know Mitch Meyers said he uses his stick so nicely to kind of direct traffic so it feels like Carlo has settled in nicely been exactly what they wanted and you know compliment he was talking about how good the fit is with Morgan Reilly, how they're starting to recognize each other's voices a little bit better when it comes to defending the rush and defensive zone kind of situation. So we'll see if that continues. And then Lawton has settled in. He's settled down a

little bit. I think it was tougher for him obviously. He's from around here so there's a little extra added pressure. Kind of weird for him at first because you know you he was living in a hotel he has a place in toronto but there's a tenant in there so he's kicking the tenant out so he'll be back in his home if he's not already which will probably help him feel a little more comfortable with his you've got a young young newborn and his wife come

come up here so i know that was tricky for him so i feel like carlos settled in lot maybe still a bit in the process but get there is he gonna be sued legacy of landlord outside kicking people out houses everyone else says you're not kicking me out anywhere as squatters nowadays people just don't leave the right back could be the case man lot versus squatter get him you'll be covering a court case masters it sounds like the guy kind of had saw the writing on the wall in the trade

with that but he had to hear that guy like to pick it the only way i'm out early that somehow get pretty here and i wonder kinda like when he kinda had it factored in you know the players probably worth thinking plant like when what the out the but maybe it wasn't that early of a kick out but uh... i understand it was somewhat friendly in court ruled is that that that that that talks between fit one in his tenet so hopefully it was really i'm ready to go to court if i

have to i like that i could see that in a big part of your future cover court cases cpd for ctv news lot of potential there uh... they are mark enjoyed it tonight yeah thanks guys anytime mark masters A lot of potential there. Thank you, Mark. Enjoy the game tonight. Yeah. Thanks, guys. Anytime. Mark Masters.

That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos. Candidate Asides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available Friday afternoon straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime. The candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum. That just happened with Vashikopelos. Canada decides 2025.

Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app.