It might not have been the most entertaining of starts, but if boring brings results, then David Alter says “bring it on”.
I’ve got to say, I nearly fell asleep as I was watching the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second and third games of the season under brand new head coach Craig Berube. Funny enough, those are the two games that resulted in wins for Toronto and helped them improve to 2-1-0 in their first three games.
So why was that? It’s because Berube has the Maple Leafs playing to a tight structure. One that preaches a north-south game with hard battles to the puck and strong defense. The result of that is wins, but they are not as exciting as the explosion of offense we’ve seen from Toronto previously.
On opening night, they fell 1-0 to the Montreal Canadiens, ending the longest active NHL streak of consecutive games without being shut out at 252 games. But then, the Leafs bounced back with victories against the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, showing a blend of grit and defensive structure that Berube is known for.
Each game had a massive storyline. In their opener against Montreal, Toronto’s lack of scoring was a glaring issue. Star players Mitch Marner, and William Nylander and No. 34 struggled to find the net, highlighting a slower start than usual for the offensive core. The Leafs were also rocked by the news that they’d be without expected starting goaltender Joseph Woll for the first three games of the season after it was revealed that morning that the oft-injured goalie was experiencing “lower-body tightness”.
Game two against the Devils showcased Toronto’s depth as they managed a 4-2 victory. This game was significant as it marked a reunion with former Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, now with New Jersey.
After back-to-back games, I usually never go to the opposing team’s morning skate but for Keefe I made an obvious exception. When he came out of the dressing room to greet the Toronto reporters who were waiting for him, he was in a great mood. “What up everybody!” he exclaimed.
Toronto’s bottom-six forwards, including Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz, stepped up to provide offensive support, exemplifying Berube’s influence on maximizing depth production. The team’s style involved crashing the net and generating high-danger scoring opportunities, a strategy that helped balance Toronto’s scoring load and compensated for the early struggles of their top players
Their third game, a home opener against former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas’ Pittsburgh Penguins, brought another 4-2 victory. This game saw Berube’s defensive system shine as players like Anthony Stolarz, the goaltender, played reliably, stopping 21 of 23 shots and reinforcing his claim on the starting position. William Nylander and Max Domi each tallied two points, helping secure the win and demonstrating how the team’s secondary players have adapted well to Berube’s system. Notably, Marner also found the back of the net in this game, hopefully signaling a break from the scoreless streak plaguing the core forwards.
Berube’s coaching has brought an emphasis on defensive responsibility, physicality, and teamwork that the Leafs have lacked in recent seasons. This shift is already visible in the way Toronto’s players are pressing on puck battles, taking charge in front of the net, and moving effectively on defense. While the core stars haven’t fully hit their stride, the team’s depth players have stepped up, suggesting that Berube’s balanced approach could give Toronto the adaptability needed for sustained success this season.
There are still some issues. The Leafs don’t have a power-play goal yet going 0-for-9. They changed things up by putting newcomer Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the top unit. Matthew Knies’ stock is also growing among the Leafs and they put him up there to.
This is one of the lightest weeks in Toronto’s schedule with just three games in an eight-day span. It will get crazier from here. But unlike the disaster that has been unfolding early on with the Edmonton Oilers, the Maple Leafs seemed to have things where they want them, for now.
The Leafs have vaulted past the defending Stanley Cup Champions at +185 to win the Atlantic Division. I don’t know if I’m there yet, but from what we’ve seen so far, boring hockey is what the Leafs need to learn for the playoffs. If that means not winning the division and someone else takes it, that’s fine, too.