Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Sigh of Relief

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 6-2 win over the Calgary Flames to snap their losing streak. They get into Auston Matthews' two-goal performance, a 3/3 night from the power play, Nick Robertson making up for a couple of bad penalties, Max Domi's strong stretch and much more. Later, Sportsnet.ca Leafs insider Luke Fox (31:37) shares his thoughts on the game before discussing the battle for the starting goalie job, what the bottom six might look like in the playoffs and what to expect in their Wednesday matchup against a surging Avalanche team.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, Lee fans, sigh relief. The Kiprios Justin born. Breathing the biggest sigh of all our Sammy McKee. Also Derek Brandeo Jake Schultz with you for the next two hours, including our leaf hour edition of our show. We are live on sports at five90 the fans sports at 360 and sports net plus The game I think a lot of Lee fans

Were waiting to see An easy one 60 minutes never in doubt large margin of victory some cookie time for the big boys This is the game that you said yesterday that you thought margin of victory, some cookie time for the big boys. This is the game that you said yesterday that you thought you might see. And JB, full credit to you. That's exactly how it played out.

It, yeah, it was just nice to know that it's still in them, I think. There's a little run of hockey there where you're going, they're still like, like I know maybe they're not the elite team in the league, but like, we're sure they're not bad, right? You just sending us the message the other day, like, they're going to make playoffs, right?

It's like, okay, really refreshing to see that all of the things we believe that are in the roster, all these good things, they are there. It all came together for a night at a time when they were pretty motivated. So, yeah, good feeling last night. Yeah, I think there can be some conversations about the quality of competition. But at this point of the season, where has

looked the way it has for the past couple weeks, you'll be taking against anybody. And this team is the team that blew a two nothing lead to the San Jose Sharks in the third period during this stretch of hockey. So I don't think you can get too bent in shape about any, any competition conversations right a tournament belief team needed a victory and they set the tone early and beat the brakes off the flanks they beat the brakes off yeah big big assist to the schedule maker because this is what the team needed right they've been pushed a little bit last week

with the likes of Florida and Ottawa. It didn't fare well. Think about reversing just the two games this week. Right. Like had they played this game first. Had they played Colorado last night and then Calgary Wednesday. And if it wouldn't farewell a gates to Colorado would would Wednesday have even mattered so much like it's

It was exactly what the doctor ordered in terms of a team that Has really depended on some incredible goaltending out of a rookie, but certainly doesn't look anywhere worthy now. I think they've lost three in a row and maybe Wolf came down to earth a little bit last night, but doesn't a Calgary team that doesn't look worthy of a potential playoff spot right now. Yeah, curious to see how that plays out. They they've been really burning the candle at both ends and they just can't score. You know, they're 30 second to the NHL in goals four. You check

a lot of the underlying stuff. It's no better. So can they find a way to produce offense? They need everyone, a couple of guys out of their lineup. So yeah, it wasn't great on their end, but to Sam's point, only beat who you play. And yeah, you can't't score especially when the goal Robber Jordan Bean and Sam Kimmer And well time to challenge like I mean you got a feel for Morgan Frost like in his you know This dad was the the PA guy for the least forever He's in his hometown probably has how many people there how much money is he spent in those tickets? Puck falls in his stick in the slot hammers at home big celebration and then

Sam came and Jordan being We're taking that away from you buddy Yeah, and that was it honestly like Huge turning point in the game you because if they that stands, I don't know if I mean I just no good last night Calgary's no good. You don't think if I mean I there's just no good last night Calgary is no good You don't think if that's that goal stands. It's a different result than we're sitting here talking about today. Maybe Maybe it's maybe it's not maybe it's six three instead of six. Okay, maybe but I just I didn't see it and regardless if it's pro for Toronto or

against Toronto like Nothing can just suck the life out of a game then just that and then waiting for the result and I don't know they got the GM meetings I wonder if that comes up at all on can we clean this thing up yeah expedite the process something maybe maybe they can't know but yeah I mean I thought the the big story for me is we've been talking about Matthews and Marner not looking great about you know Just all these things down the line of work not sure about and I thought those guys came out and had a hockey game

You know they I was I remember sitting there and it was 2-1 or 3-1 I forget when Matthew scored and going, it's a shame he doesn't have one tonight because he should have about five. Like he had a ton of attempts and was all over it. So glad a couple went in. All right, let's get Craig Bruby's thoughts on the game and then we'll zero in on two goal performance

by Austin Matthews. Well, the effort in our first period was, I mean, just the urgency and the way we came out and played and shot pucks and you know, our temps were way up and we were like right on top of them. You know, there was no room for them so that was the key start of the game for us. Our power play was very good tonight obviously and our PK did a good job. So those are big parts of the game. The challenge, our video guys did a good job there. It was taking a little longer than I thought.

They told me they're 110% sure. So, I don't know, took a while. So much pressure. If you're in the coach's ear and you tell them you're 110% sure it's coming back. I don't know, maybe I. So much pressure as that's taken a lot. Maybe I missed the definitive angle.

The angle they kept showing on Amazon showed zilch. Zilch? Not one thing. What if we try showing you this same angle? How about this one again? It's like, can we get the other side maybe? Yeah. Maybe they just must have had something.

They must have saw something I think it bounced off of Blotten's gate that that delayed it and then push it happened for him But hey lots took a goal off the board of that one It was you know, he had the bad luck at the end of the game But he took one away there without this guy's like I got a four leaf clover on my chest and I can't get a bounce like it's bouncing it off me in a They're doing stepping on rakes It'll come together. Yeah. Okay, Austin Matthews. Yeah. Yeah, what did we see last night that we haven't seen over a very large stretch of hockey

He had the puck a lot, you know, they were in the offensive zone I thought you know getting open finding spots and they're just seeing some ozone possession time. It's funny watching with the puck last night being like he hasn't had it there a lot this year, you know, the puck just seemed to follow him around a bit. He had good puck touches. There you go. Indeed. He did. Should we listen to the coach? You have a thought on it? Yeah, of course. But let's go. Let's go to Craig. We have a couple of different ones from Borube. So the one play Clip 2, which is right after the game last night. So Clip 2, please, Derek. I think, you know, that's your leader, right?

Led the way for me. Led the way with effort, competitiveness, just work. And then this one's from after practice today in Toronto as well. Clip seven please Derek. He grabbed a hold of the room and you know it's not good enough what's going on here and he went out and you know he talked and then he walked you know really what it boils down to he went out and he led the way with the work and the compete that was needed at the start of the game. I think it's interesting that he's talking about he competed.

He looked more like what we've been accustomed to seeing, especially in his big years. that the focus obviously when people speak of him and even Max, we'll get Max's comments on him, but it's around first of all, he's competitive, hardworking and it hasn't always been the case, at least from my eyes, that that's why Barube mentioned those two or three things. It's because maybe it hasn't been there all the time for him. And then it has caused us to go, okay, what's going on? Is he hurt? He's just not that guy who Craig just described moments ago. You know, he was very close to winning,

I should say very close, but close enough to winning a Selkie trophy. Did he get nominated for the Selkie one year? You know, like he was a real force in the D-Zone and winning pucks back and takeaways and all those, you know, those things. And so it is funny because you never want to accuse a player of not working hard when they might be hurt, when they might whatever, but he was a nominee last year. He was a nominee last year.

And scoring 70. Yeah. Who's the finalist? Last year it was Barkov, Matthews and Stahl. Barkov wins. The year before it was Marner, Patrice Bergeron won in 2023 in Niko Hescher. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. Yeah. So like, you know, it's a big part of his game getting pucks back and and we haven't seen it times where it's like He's on the other side of the body, right? We've seen him I'm gonna go to the wrong side and try to stick lift rather than the right side and and so it's you know Never sure if it's effort or injury or what but to me I think we've talked a lot this year about his captaincy and

to me, I think we've talked a lot this year about his captaincy and How not a lot of things have been really different and like all the different things that we've talked about You know, like I don't think he's ever gonna be really mr. Ra-ra I don't see him behind the scenes but like in his media availability some sort of his demeanor on the ice Doesn't necessarily feel like a ra-ra guy. But to me last night doesn't necessarily feel like a raw, raw guy. But to me, last night actually seemed like the most leader-y thing he's ever really done for the Leafs in terms of him being the captain, where you're in a tailspin,

your team has been playing awful, you've been quiet, there's been tons of question marks about you, and then you just go out there and you like, I mean, to use the cliche hockey term, absolutely set the tone right from the drop use the cliche hockey term, absolutely set the tone right from the drop of the puck where he just took over the game. It's like the first real captainy thing I could ever really see him doing, to be honest. I mean, I wish it had happened before March, before St. Patrick's Day. Right. But I was surprised by it last

night. We also got a comment from Max Domi talking about Austin Matthews as captain, let's have a listen. He's the man, honestly. You know, he battles through, he's probably the hardest working guy I've ever played with in my whole career and I've played with a lot of guys. So he's driving the bus for sure. And we got, it's tough not to jump on board

with a guy like that. As talented as he is, you see him tracking back and then turn pucks over and stripping guys and taking guys one on three down low and coming out with the puck somehow. Obviously the goal scoring speaks for itself, but it's all the other stuff and how he handles himself in here.

Like I said, he's driving the bus and I've said it from day one, he's my favorite player to watch, favorite player to play with and best player in the world. So love him to death and he's doing a great job. Now that's just a good teammate right there, right? I was gonna say, who loves,

Craig Bureve love Shen more or does he love Austin Matthews more? That's a guy who's trying to build up Austin and he hasn't been driving the bus who's trying to build up Austin, and he hasn't been driving the bus, and he hasn't always looked like he's the hardest working guy. I think especially if you go back last summer with the decision to strip John Tavares

from his captaincy and give it to him, they have wanded and pushed for Austin to go to the next level. And up until last night, that hasn't happened. No signs of Austin now taking over and truly being the face of this team. It hasn't happened yet. And good on Max for telling people how good he can be

and how great he can potentially drive a bus, but it hasn't happened this year. And you got 15 more games to go. Maybe starting last night, that is the start now of Austin being the guy that Craig Bruby and Max Domey just described. But up until going into last night, zero signs that this guy is the face

and the engine behind this hockey club. Yeah, listen, we fundamentally in the past, like you and I disagree about what Matthews is. That's just, though we've established that over the years. What is he? Well, I mean last year he scored 69 and was nominated for the Selke. To me, he's if not the best player in the world. He's not. He's not Connor McDavid. Then he's in that top three. He's one of the guys who controls the game and fundamentally changes the hockey game when he's out that top three. He's one of the guys who controls the game and and fundamentally changes

The hockey game when he's out there and this year I I told I totally See it with you. He hasn't been that this year And so we've tried him I've been trying to put a finger on why and that part is Has been a big challenge because we don't know and they don't tell us anything You sit here and talk about it every day and it's like You know the guy who is still, I think 1.2 points per game, I don't know what he is exactly,

but statistically still having a good year is not the same. And so it's hard to be critical, but you know, in terms of looking for him to be the guy, it's hard in the year where we don't, he went to Germany. He sat out nine games, like we don't even to Germany. He sat out nine games like we don't something's up. And we've given him in all due respect that the benefit of the doubt we have. I totally yes.

Everybody has. And does last night now put an end to he's hurting, he's not 100%, something's going on. Can we stop that narrative for the next 15 games? I see, I'm, you know, the whole, he's not as good as you, things are not as good as you think they are, or as bad as you think they are. I think the flames kind of stunk it up last night.

And I think the puck fell to Matthews a couple of times in good spots. It has, but what we witnessed last night was common to the 69 goal season where it's like it's on his stick it's gone like it's no hesitation no the kip on the right on the power play he didn't hit any of those one timers that fell to him over there and I was like why doesn't he shoot it. I mean he the second one he kind of fanned on it too and his trick trick. And he tricked the five hole one on Wolf. He kind of.

I thought he got a lot of it. It was not the A shot I wouldn't say. If you want to watch it again, like the first one's a nice shot. It's still, I think you're still going to see signs of him not being perfect. But just the encouraging thing for me and you talking about him not really taking it over

all year is totally fair. Like it's just, it's been a constant conversation. And for him last night, regardless of competition, just to go out there and seem like the leader is hugely encouraging. Outside of shooting in the net, I saw more spring. I saw more pop. I saw more energy from him. I pop. I saw more energy from him.

I did. I feel like it's been a lot for him this year. You start with the captaincy and you start with injuries and you start with this overseas stuff and he never quite finds it. He sits out and he's struggling. The stats are down. Then they go into the four nations

and he's kind of the guy in that final game where you feel like it's him or nobody for a while You know then they're right into it just has felt like a lot in total I don't disagree with anything you just said and now I wonder okay It's after the trade deadline. You know they're they're they're off this whole road trip. Can things settle in? He's got some spring in his step. They've been tired Can we find a spot here where they're just themselves again? Can they wear green every night? They wear green every game.

Regardless of Calgary being bad or running out of gas, like, this should be able to kind of take him into a very challenging game Wednesday night with, he should feel as good going into Wednesday night versus Nate McKinnon as He's felt all season long. Yeah. Yeah and like listen, you know I say he's one of these like top few guys in the world Him at his best just looks different than McKinnon at his best and McDavid his best No one can do what they do. They are top speed Pull the speed of the game behind them. There's there's a wake behind them body There's violence to both those guys right and it's not Matthews has never been that he's a different

So I've had I've seen him drag guys on his back going to the net. I have yeah Yeah, no, he's right. He he can He's on the game drag awake. Yeah, he can okay. It's a different type. It's a different type. Yeah, it's not It's a more forceful but less more forceful less fast twitch. Yeah for sure So, you know, you're not gonna watch that game and go that guy's as good as that guy. It's not gonna happen Yeah, I'm making the kinins like free. I think for fans for sure Like there was a real Dread to a lot of these games watching these games looking ahead to these games that over the past few weeks

We've just looked so similar and they've you know, you've just been kind of worried about going into it Like what are we gonna see tonight at least last night? Breaks up the monotony of that and gives you a little bit of excitement going into the Wednesday night being like, okay, maybe we're back and they might not be. Like they may get starched on Wednesday, but at least fans have a little bit of hope going into it. Colorado's beating everyone. They're so good. So good right now.

Even on the power play, like there's sometimes when he's drifting off the post between the bottom of the circle if you're facing if you're the goalie facing it and sometimes he gets too lost over there for me and then the five hole second power play goal where he's in the slot and actually nises below the goal line that to me was the maybe one of the first power play goals I I'm like, hey, I've seen Tampa do that and I've seen Florida do that with Reinhardt. What I haven't seen is that type of bang, bang, bang play out of the Toronto Maple Leafs. And I like Matthew standing there. I don't like him getting lost on the far blue line waiting for the one-timer.

Last night, great point, because last night was the first time I felt like on the far blue line waiting for the one timer. Last night, great point, because last night was the first time I felt like on the power play, guys were all over the place. At one point, Matthews and Marner switch and Matthews came up to the top and Marner was on the flank and it didn't quite work, but they were trying to get to different spots. They weren't as rigid in where they are,

and Marner's able to make his reads, gets it over to Nylander for a great one-timer like yeah there was more movement on the power play sometimes I'm even last night even last night sometimes I'm looking at knives and Tavars and they're almost standing beside each other at the top of the blue line and I'm like no good yeah just might as well be wearing one Jersey yeah and it's not there's no movement in that it stinks I think it's getting to the pucks and hoping that you get a bounce in a rebound And it's like they don't want to hurt anyone's feelings because obviously those guys are good enough to be there

but it's like if they are redundant like I Love McMahon's shot from the bumper. Like, I feel like he might be a little something different that could play higher up in the slot for them, but not gonna critique the power play in a night. They go three for three. Yeah. Not lots of looks.

It had some good looks there, especially that goal I just mentioned. Why don't we? Oh, so I was just gonna say, that's Matthew's third multi-goal game all year. I'm sure he had five hat tricks. Honest to God, last night before the game, I year. Last year he had five hat-tricks. Honest to God, last night before the game, I was like, has he had no hat-tricks?

Zero hat-tricks. That's bizarre. All right, let's listen to clip six from Craig Berube on the power play. The biggest key for me was the resets at the top. Not forcing it through the seams, not forcing it. It's clogged up there, but we moved it around. We were patient, moved it around, we were patient,

moved it around, and then we attacked when we could and shot it, and you know, we capitalized on some plays, but just the resets up top, the resets up top, you know, that's very important. Yeah. And yeah, I think we've gotten to the point now where we've all gotten past the fact that it's five forwards, where it's like,

that used to be like, oh, it's not, but it's just always gonna be five forwards. And Marner's the best option they have at the top, he's the best distributor. He took a run at a loose puck in the neutral zone that if he didn't get to, it was like, oh! It was a two on one. Yeah, he made a great play there. That was very, very close.

Yeah, like a loose deep back up. He has a knack, eh? He does. His timing back there. He has a knack, eh? He does. His timing back there to break up a two on one or get some sort of stick on puck is like phenomenal. Knack is a perfect word. If it's a two on one or a three on one or near two on oh and you can give me Riley or Marner defending it, I don't know who I pick. I honestly don't know who I pick.

Like is this going to be the power play goal? God, those jerseys look good on ice. They do. They look really sharp. Yeah, Matthews gets himself to the bumper spot down low, one touch. Kaboom. But yeah, I think that Marner is as good as Morgan Riley. That is one of the worst PK teams in the league too. Are they not? From the looks of that. They were like, not even like. I don't need to look at the stats. No, it was not pretty last night. No, no, no.

They are as bad on the PK as they appear. Yeah, they're 27th in the NHL. Oh. Nice. Can they play the Flames in the first round? That'd be great. I don't think that's an option. Penalty seemed to be a bit of an issue the last little while. What happened to Robertson there on that one? I don't know. He can't shoot. Did we hear post game? Clip five. Barube please. Yeah, it's, you know,

we've got to be more disciplined. You know, it's just, that's the bottom line. You know, can't shoot a puck after a whistle. He said he'd never heard a whistle, but I mean, I heard it. And, you know, you got to keep your, you got to be aware of your stick. I mean, it's just, we can't take those penalties. But, and Chief's this close to getting Darrell Sittler hearing aids.

Okay, and he heard it. And that's the most like, you're lying to me. You heard it. Like the coach is just not believing your, I didn't hear it story. And after he took the high stick, you know, as far away as possible from his own net, and they flashed a berube on the bench,

and he just like did this like brow wipe and went down to the, he was so incensed. So he's so mad. It's a guy he regularly scratches, or does scratch sometimes, and he still sits him out for one rotation. It's like that is, he doesn't bench anybody. If you're not, I understand that he rubs,

he won't score, but that was like the guy you would have done it. Couldn't believe he got another shift. Couldn't believe it. He sat one rotation, and then he went on scored So credit to Ruby and maybe I don't know Yeah, it's gotta pay off for Craig Borough be all this loyalty, you know I mean all these guys are gonna retire and go I love playing for I do whatever I want. I've got Kyra

I love that player. I love the guy What else we're gonna talk about we got the Robertson Domi McMahon line who oh, yeah were I mean I I am frustrated because not a playoff line for me Just not a playoff line and they play well together all the time. And so I'm gonna have to just say I'm wrong and But it's bad bad mark my words They will not be an effective line against the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay light. I Don't love that line head-to-head with no chance. I don't know where you go. I Were out of ideas

We're out of ideas Give me alternatives give me Maybe a heavier line that you don't at least if they don't score they can give you some Matchup minutes or something they went one one and you're in croc one game I don't know taking the big boys and spreading them out three lines one game not even close to a game five minutes of ice time total. Yeah. And this is... This is what it's gonna be. What it's gonna be.

You are telling me they're gonna go McMandomey Robertson round one. Lot and start on the fourth line, no David Camp. No chance. So I don't know how they'll... I think you need Camp back in there. Camp's gotta be in there. I will say, Holmberg has changed my feeling about him

He's big big and he's making some plays lately and he's drawing penalties and he's kind of in people's faces Transports and get punched in the face last night. That was great. It's It's still a challenge getting pucks to the net though. Even last night. Can't shoot even last night. Yeah, like I'm He can't shoot. Or doesn't shoot. So I don't know what the score was halfway through the game. Maybe 3-1. Maybe 4-1.

But like they went over 30 minutes with 10 shots on goal. And I get it. They might have been up. Yeah. But like you're still a team kind of starving for for pucks to the net and offense And there's guys that want to get going and McMahon scored after a lot of games that he didn't score and that's the one you needed There's there's a few others that could could use a cookie but

ten shots on goal in 30 minutes with Calgary last night like 60 minutes push push push it's still a challenge all right we should listen to Peruvian the Robertson Domey man line to assess if he's going to use them well you get a little combination of everything there but you got some real speed on the wings right and you know Robbie finishes you know he tonight. Max made some plays but the line for me tonight was, you know they had the hound mentality in them. I thought that they all were skating, working in the face of the other team,

didn't give them time and space and that was a key for their line tonight in my opinion. Yeah and we're seeing the best of Max Domey. This is what you signed. Seven or eight points in his last 12 games, he's been good. This is the guy that you had, can move him up or down the lineup.

But his energy is as good as we've seen as a Maple Leaf in the last week. Absolutely. Looked it up last year around this time, I think from the start of March as good as we've seen as a Maple Leaf in the last week. Absolutely. Looked it up last year around this time. I think from the start of March until the end of the season in 21 games, I think he had 17 or 18 points. Got hot and they played him with Matthews.

He heated up towards the end of the year. I think he had four points in the first round of goal and three assists in the first round. So I mean, nobody scored at all in that first round. So that's pretty good for him. So you're kind of hoping that maybe he's the type of guy at this time of year really starts to get engaged. And you think about the Florida game where he scores, he beats the crap out of Schmidt, he hammers for Haggie.

Great again last night. Pretty good Saturday night. You hope that he flips the switch. You just don't think it. You know, a couple of the things that went right for Domi or what worries about me, like the sauce he throws out to Robertson from behind the net through to people that let. Every once in a while there's the hopers. Well that gets through in that game.

And most of the time it doesn't. Skips off a stick two on one the other way. You know, like I don't like the play, but you can't sit here today and be like bad plays a great play But I'm a coach. We don't want me making those that low angle of that pass I know that land over like the two sticks right in the sweet spot. It's like God what a pass such a good right? Nice was guilty of a horrific turn over the goal against against Rasmus Anderson.

Where it's like. He would have a great play. Turn your back, can't see the back pressure, next thing you know, one-one after a period that you could have been up three-nothing. Yeah. Right, so few things to clean up, and Max isn't the only one.

No, no, no, no. No, and he again, he was excellent last night, and I loved the pursuit. I. No, no, no, no. No, and he again, he was excellent last night. And I love the pursuit. I think Nick Robertson can play. You put him in the lineup and I he doesn't bother me at all. You can begin. You still have hope. There's a Max Petretti.

Well, did he go to rebirth like Robita Island? Like this guy was like a fixture in the lineup. And then everyone's like, yeah, his back's a little sore. And now he's just if he can if he can just physically feel good yeah like maybe a couple of hits in the first round might be might be enough to heavy great shot can hit like he's already showed me 12 minutes over 40 games unfortunately the the body broke down on him. But I don't know if he can just hang around. But that's what I'm saying, I'm asking about before the show,

is his body broke down on, did it? Did we, what did we hear on this? He just went away. The first like practice back from the Four Nations when we were like still in the middle of Four Nations, it's like it didn't happen. But he's like, ah, it's, something happened. He's gone.

He's gone. He's gone. Can we's like, ah, it's some happen. What he's got on a landmine. He's got can we know I think the body broke down. What does it mean? I don't know. I don't know. He's with Dr. Goldman. Six million dollar man.

He's getting rebuilt right now. They're just like soldering his hips. They flashed him with his full body. We can rebuild them. But he's he's practice. He's before practice. We can rebuild them. But he's he's practicing. He's before practice. He's out there with old Yanni Hawk and Pah.

They're out there before practice. He lives. He's wearing he's wearing hockey equipment. I could pause Max Scherzer's brother. Oh, please. All right, please. Come on, Borny. Sorry, bud.

All right, let's take a quick break. Yeah, we'll get Luke after the break down there covering the game last night. You heard Sammy Luke Fox, Leafs and NHL writer for Sportsnet.ca. More Leaf talk when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Hey, it's Ben Ennis and I'm Brent Cutting. We got you covered on all things Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays every weekday morning, six to nine. It's the fan morning show Sportsnet 590 to the fan and wherever you get your podcasts.

All right, we're back. You good, Sammy? All good, brother. Good JB. Good. Okay, let's welcome in Luke Fox. Leafs and NHL writer for sportsnet.ca Luke Your fingers off the panic button, right? Or is it Sammy's which one? Oh I don't know about Sammy I can't keep track of his emotions

A little bit of an exhale after last night's game. Is that the sense you got leaving? For sure. There was a lot of relief in that dressing room talking to the guys. You know, I think Max Domey put it best. He basically said we knew we needed that one, and it certainly felt like that. It felt like an unusually big game for a Monday against a non-conference opponent, just because the losses were piling up. But also, aesthetically,

they looked pretty awful for a good couple weeks now. They were getting some points on shootouts and overtime, and they were kind of just scraping by but that was their most emphatic When I would say in two months dating back to when they went in the Bell Center But even in that one they had to dig themselves out of a hole and then they came back and walloped the Canadians that was probably the last time where a Victory felt that decisive for the Leafs and I think that's important that not only did they get the two points, and of course that matters, you know, you're looking at the standings and it's so tight there between those teams.

But I think they needed a decisive victory, enough of these, you know, barely getting by type wins. So the mood around the group has changed. I think they were at their lowest, their angriest. I think they knew they had better. And I thought Austin Matthews was the best player on the ice. And we probably haven't been able to say that enough this season. Absolutely agree.

In the first hour, there was one topic we didn't get to, which was goaltending, you know, and not because it was all that impactful in the game last night, but rather we are now inside of a month till playoffs and all year long we're going, okay, game one, who's it going to be? And it kind of felt like they tried to give it to Stolarz, but he had a couple of mediocre performances. Where are we at on the goalie watch for playoffs? I think Stolarz still has the edge, but I don't think it's as wide of a gap. So Joseph Wohl, you know, I don't think he's been standing on his head, but he has won his last two games and Stolar's has lost the last two.

The counter argument to that would be that Craig Brubay has given the harder opponents to Stolar's. And I would imagine he'll get the net again against the Colorado Avalanche. So how does he look? Can he rebound and have a strong performance against those guys? I think they're leaning towards him because they have been giving him the quote unquote marquee matchups. But I thought Joseph Oll was solid.

I think he was a little shaky to start, but he settled in. He wasn't overly tested. Let's be honest, guys, that's the 32nd ranked offense in the whole NHL. The Calgary Flames weren't pressuring him that much, but he got the job done under a pressure-filled night. They needed a win. He was solid enough. He got the job done.

I think we still have, whatever it is, 15 games or so to see this race play out It is important to note that Craig Brube announced a while ago that he does want one guy I don't think he wants to rotate right through the playoffs He wants one guy to grab it and probably start game one end game two and we'll see who that is You're watching and listening to Luke Fox, NHL writer covering the Leafs for Sportsnet.ca. So Luke, speaking of potentially a rotation here, we've seen various looks of a third line last night.

We saw Robertson, Domi and McMahon, everything points into the direction that it was a huge building block for them. The way Max Domi is playing right now. Lawton, where does he fit in on a third line? And then ultimately David Camp. Where do you sense the bottom six moving towards ever so closely to the first round? Yeah, it is fascinating, Nick, because like who would have had David Camp out of the lineup?

I thought this team needed more centers, not fewer centers, and all of a sudden, you know, you win and you probably keep winning lineup according to line rushes today. David Camp is still on the outside. I just find it hard to wrap my head around David Camp not being in the lineup, game one of the playoffs, just because I think they need his defensive prowess. I think Nick Robertson, great on him for scoring a goal, but I think he's still very much on

the bubble of this lineup when it comes to the playoffs, just because you're not going to play the Calgary Flames in round one. You're going to play a big, heavy team. It could be Tampa, it could be Florida. He hasn't exactly thrived in those environments. I think he's working his butt off and he's improved as a two-way player. He's improved in terms of giving you a little something in terms of energy on nights he doesn't score, but he's very much on the brink.

I find Lawton really interesting. So he's played five games, in three of them he doesn't even have a shot. He's a minus player so far. He hasn't had a point as a Leaf. He's really struggling to find his footing. I felt bad for him in garbage time there. The goal clicks off his skate, goes in past Woll.

He's fighting it and you can tell, tell the guy is wearing it a little bit. He wants to make an impact. He realizes that the team gave up a first rounder plus a half decent prospect and Grabencum to get him. Local guy tried to fight the other night. He wants to make an impact. You don't give up that much and not have him in the lineup. So it is kind of interesting that there is an internal battle going here. But as long as that

line of Robertson, Domi and McMahon is giving you something offensively, I don't see a reason to stray from it. But Lawton has yet to find his fit. That's to be sure. Yeah, it does feel like there's still some... Mike's off. It does feel like there's still some that's to be sure. Mike's off, it does feel like there's still some soul searching to be done by soul searching, I mean line searching, like trying to figure out how to get these guys all put together. As they head towards playoffs, it's a tight race now. Two points back of Florida with a game in hand,

Tampa's just in the same spot there. Do you place much weight on the value of home ice? Like, you know, I would love to see them win the division as would you guys, I'm sure, in terms of their chances, but if they get stuck in that 2-3 series, does that matter? I think it does, and maybe less about having home ice as playing strong and feeling good about yourselves going into the playoffs. I mean, I'm sure you guys remember like the way that the season ended last year,

they limped in guys. Like it was all about Matthew's 70 goal chase. Willie was chasing a career high in points. They didn't have their game together. They looked scattered. They were doing some load management. A lot of the lines weren't clicking. And what do you know, they dug themselves some load management, a lot of the lines weren't clicking.

And what do you know, they dug themselves a hole in the Boston series. And by the time they turned it around and started playing their best hockey in that series, it was too late. Boston had built the lead, they were coming from behind. I think it has less to do with what building it takes place in because I actually think sometimes at home they get a little nervous and a little panicky in the playoffs and more about you want to be playing your best hockey. And this was a team that was leading the division for the bulk of, you know, 2025 and they've

let it slip. So I think if they're piling wins and coming in with some momentum that would serve them well. I don't think this team can flip a switch overnight. As far as Wednesday night, right back at a team right now that everybody thinks can contend for Stanley Cup, we saw some major major trades to reinforce the Colorado avalanche. reinforce the Colorado Avalanche. Good time to play them very next game or do we get a sense that they would have liked a couple of more to kind of rebuild coming off of the Calgary game? What are your thoughts? I think it's a great time. I think, you know, they've just got slapped around by a bunch of real contenders like the Avalanche a couple weeks

back, like Florida came into their own barn. Now they would have a much different feeling had they lost last night against Calgary, but they got a win under their belts. Let's show the world that we can hang with the real contenders. That would be my message if I was Craig Berube to the guys. You know, you got home ice, you got to win, you're feeling good about yourselves, you got a practice day in, you're sleeping in your own beds.

Let's show up against a real team and see what you got because their last few quote unquote measuring stick games, they've come up a little too short. So I think this will tell us a lot about where the team is at. For sure. One of the things that you know, you mentioned Lawton is one of their new additions. We haven't touched on much as Brandon Carlo. I think by some of the fancy stats like expected goals and shot attempts and stuff are he's like the best among the Leafs D and has been controlling the play while playing with Riley which he hasn't had a ton of success with the partner so far Have you liked his start as a Maple Leaf? 100% yeah There was a one that you know

I think the first game in Colorado that their attack is so fast guys and there's such a good passing team That you know, I think it was a lot for for him to handle. There was a couple shifts early on. I think he started his Leafs career at Dash 2 before he could blink. But I think he's really settled in. I think he's been unnoticeable a lot of times, which is fantastic. That means he's not giving it away. He's making pretty clean exits. And I actually had a chance to talk to Joseph Wall a little bit about his first impressions.

And he's like, he's the exact kind of defenseman I love because he's quiet. He just gets the puck away. I don't have to worry about it. It's just, he clears the front of the net, does simple plays. And I think one of the reasons that he was attractive is just his length. He gets in the way. He's got a long stick.

He can break up passes. The penalty kill went four for four last night. They were perfect, kind of an undersold part of that victory because of the goal of Palooza that went on at the other end. But the PK was fantastic and they needed a guy like him. And you know, the fact that Tannem's healthy again, you have two guys that are just pure defensemen, you know, throw Jacob McCabe in there as well, but two guys that that's all they care about is just preventing goals from going in the net.

He's got experience. He's got a ton of playoff experience because the Bruins have won a bunch of rounds in his tenure So I think it was a really smart pickup So if those three guys all they care about is defense who's gonna help put the puck in the net? When you look at Morgan Riley, there were some signs that he was starting to come out of it. Does he need a game? against Colorado like Austin Needed a game against Calgary last night? Yeah, if you're going to pick one guy, it's it's probably him, Nick. Like, and the funny thing is, he's going to be staring across the red line and there's Kale McCarr capable of throwing down six

points. So, you know, he's not on that level, but they do need more offense from him. And he should feel more free to get up into the play because Carla was his partner now, because he has that safety net, because he's always thrived when it's that type of profile player, be it Ron Hainsey, Luke Shen. That's when Morgan Riley's been at his best and Craig Rubay, you know, gave him a gentle call out yesterday morning. You know, someone asked about Riley's game and he's like, well, you know, he was going pretty good there before the Four Nations, but much like our team, he's kind of dipped a little bit. The pressure's on here. The good news is that history would tell us a little like we're seeing with Max Domi is that Riley does tend to bring his game

up, elevate when it matters most. There hasn't been very many long stretches this season. He's struggled, but now that he knows he has one partner, they're sticking with it, they're not throwing a different guy on his right side every other night. I think that's given the security to, you know, have a bit of an offensive breakout. They need it and I think he needs it for his confidence too. All right, Luke, get a good rest.

You're right back at it tomorrow night, man. Thanks for doing this. Okay, anytime guys, have a good one. You too, thanks Luke. Luke Fox. Yeah. We just watched on the weekend, Dallas and

Colorado Mccarr scoring in overtime. Yeah, that'll be a heck of a series but as Good as Dallas is as deep as they are like There's no one in the lineup that can do McKinnon or McCarr stuff. No, is there a two teammates in the league that can do McKinnon or McCarth stuff. No. Is there two teammates in the league that can do that? No, but that's one of those things. It's like every time you go up against a team,

or that team, they got the best guys. Yeah, they have the two best players in the ice every time. I can't think of a bigger challenge for the Strongmaid Leafs coming up tomorrow night than this team at this moment right now where they're starting to really warm up with the likes of Brooke brock nelson in in the lineup and This new kut uh, nake nake kushkin. Oh, they don't lose this guy

This guy is really the guy that completely changes Colorado's look and feel. He is a mule. So going somewhere there 13 and oh and one with him in the lineup or something. That does sound right. Going back to February 26, I just want to go through the avalanche schedule and their goal there, the games they've been in, they won by four, they won by three, they won by three, they won by four, they won by three, they won by three, they lost in a shootout, they won by two, they won by one. So like, the Leafs pummeled the Flames last night, whatever, by four goals. They can't have many wins by more than a goal or two. Every game they're in is a nail-biter

down to the end. Like the Abz are finishing T's off by the second period. Since that's basically since around the deadline. Yeesh. You know, and then they're gonna, they got Nelson going now and could get Landis Gogh back potentially. There is a very real possibility that the Leafs lose tomorrow night

but could somehow still look good and feel good moving forward mind that game they lost to Colorado They lost five four. They like it was seven four two and others at the end, but it's a five four game You know they that one wasn't close for me. No, I Try but like you look at their top two lines here in their last ten games, right for Colorado Nice try, but like you look at their top two lines here in their last ten games, right for Colorado Lackadon McKinnon and and Natures Eight points in the last ten for Lackadon 16 for McKinnon nine for Natures Joanne has seven in his last ten Brock Nelson has nine points in his last ten games

Nukushkin nine points in his last ten games Yeah, like their forwards are just lighting it up and that doesn't even say without I mean the car has 15 points in his last ten games. Like their forwards are just lighting it up and that doesn't even say without I mean, the car has 15 points in his last ten games Dave six points in his last like they just are shooting it in Constantly good luck and my biggest beef for the Leafs the last two three weeks is just not playing fast enough not making decisive quick confident decisions. And hopefully that started last night. But if you don't have that feel and that look against this team tomorrow night,

it will be long. It's so funny though, like the way people use the term play fast and the way coaches use it is so different. Like when Craigube says we've been playing too slow, he means they've been making plays, like hanging onto the puck and curling back and whatever. Play fast means just touching off the boards and go. He means that way. Or even if you have it on your stick longer than a split second,

move your feet. Move your feet. That's the only thing I do as a coach at House Hockey. Don't put them in cement... As soon as you touch the puck, move your feet. in cement boots and then look for a 60-foot pass that gets redirected and it's right back in your zone. Yes, agree. I've seen that 50 times in the last 10 games.

There is no point in a hockey game in which you should be standing still with the puck unless you're parked behind your net or you're in some sort of regroup while people change. Otherwise move your feet up ice and look for the plays. Take the ice that's given to you while it's available. Tell that to my beer league team. Move your feet. Lot of feet.

By the way. Move. That's my Scott Lawton advice so far too. Keep it moving. You think he's too slow? No, I think he's been playing slow. He's playing slow. Yes. There you go. Okay. All right. Catch your breath. You'll got an hour to go as we go national with Steve Valiquette for his Tuesday analysis. It's going to be a lot of fun. This guy is

a staple here on the Real Kipper and Born Show and we've got them up next. Don't go away!