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Global News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Leafs make lineup changes for Game 5
TORONTO – Craig Berube shook things up Wednesday. The Maple Leafs head coach made two changes at forward for Game 5 of Toronto's second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers. Berube brought winger Nick Robertson and centre David Kampf down from the press box and into the action. Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg were scratched. Robertson, who last played in Game 2 of the opening round, had four goals and two assists when coming back into the lineup during the regular season. Kampf dressed for the first time since April 2 when he was injured against the Panthers. Robertson warmed up on the left wing with Max Domi and Bobby McMann, while Kampf centred the fourth line between Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz. Berube said following Wednesday's morning skate any roster moves would be tactical — and not injury-related — with the best-of-seven matchup between Atlantic Division rivals tied 2-2. Story continues below advertisement Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who missed Tuesday's practice with an illness, was good to go for Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena. The Panthers, meanwhile, were minus winger Evan Rodrigues after he took a big hit from Ekman-Larsson — the play resulted in an interference penalty — in Game 4. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Jesper Boqvist, a healthy scratch the last two games and without a goal since Jan. 25, drew in on Florida's top line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. The Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 series lead with consecutive home victories before the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers held serve on their turf, including a suffocating 2-0 victory Sunday where Toronto struggled to create offence. Prior to Wednesday's lineup swaps, Berube hadn't made any tweaks to his forward group or defence corps since veteran winger Max Pacioretty replaced Robertson for Game 3 of Toronto's first-round victory over the Ottawa Senators in the Battle of Ontario. Story continues below advertisement Game 6 between the Leafs and Panthers goes Friday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. Game 7, if necessary, would be back in Toronto on Sunday. WONDER WOLL Toronto fans have been making video versions of the song 'Wonderwall' by English rockers Oasis where they add goaltender Joseph Woll's name to the lyrics. Leafs winger Matthew Knies recently showed him some of the clips that have gone viral online. 'Nice little ring too it,' Woll said with a smile following Tuesday's practice. MOVING ON Mitch Marner isn't interested in discussing the elbow he took to the back of the head from Florida defenceman Dmitry Kulikov in Game 4 that went uncalled. 'It's hockey,' said the Toronto winger. 'Stuff happens fast. I don't really care or talk about it. I'm just trying to go out there and do my thing.' WHAT ABOUT BOB? McMann had gone 21 games without a goal dating back to the regular season entering Wednesday. The 28-year-old, who has one assist in the playoffs, last found the back of the net March 25. The Leafs haven't got a lot of offensive production from its depth forwards this spring. Laughton, Jarnkrok, Lorentz and Holmberg had also all failed to score through 10 post-season contests ahead of Game 5. Story continues below advertisement 'The bottom-6 has really got to drive the pace of the game, the physical side of the game,' Berube said Wednesday morning. 'Establish our game plan with our forecheck and how we want to check. 'They need to check. They need to do a good job of checking and playing with energy and pace.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Should Maple Leafs Dress Ryan Reaves? Don't Bother — It's Not Like Anyone's Fighting In These Playoffs
In a series we all thought was going to be nasty, it's safe to say the Florida Panthers' second-round matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs has lived up to the hate-filled hype. In Game 1, Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz was reportedly stretchered out of the arena and to a hospital after taking an "accidental elbow" to the head from Sam Bennett. Since then, we've seen Florida's Evan Rodrigues get hit from behind, Toronto's John Tavares get hit high and Florida's Aleksander Barkov get sent face-first into the boards. And we're potentially only halfway through what looks like it could be a seven-game series. But for all the head shots, cheap shots and verbal pot shots delivered in this second-round clash, what we still haven't seen is a single fight. No question, we've seen droplets of blood spilled on the ice – as well some vomit on the bench. But despite all the trash talk coming from Florida's bad boy trio of Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand and Bennett, no one has actually dropped the gloves — much less brawled. That's probably why there has been no calls for Toronto to inject Ryan Reaves into Game 5. Why would there be? It's not like anyone is fighting in these playoffs. On Monday, the spur-of-the-moment tilt between Vegas' Nicolas Hague and Edmonton's Trent Frederic was the first 'official' fight after nearly three weeks of playoff hockey. Before that, there were no fights in the Battle of Ontario, despite both teams combining for 57 penalties in six games. There were no fights in the Battle of Florida, in which the teams traded questionable hits and where Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended for delivering a head shot on Lightning winger Brandon Hagel. So far, there hasn't been a fight in the second-round series between Carolina and Washington, despite all the bad blood that carried over from the regular season. None between Winnipeg and Dallas, or in the previous series between Winnipeg and St. Louis, despite Jets center Mark Scheifele getting injured on a high hit from Blues center Brayden Schenn. The question is why? Why aren't seeing more fights. It's not like fighting has gone away from hockey. Or the games have been any less violent. In fact, there were 297 fights in the regular season, which was down slightly from 311 in 2023-24. Like we're seeing this year, there were only four fights in the playoffs last year. All but one of them occurred in the first round, where the physicality tends to be the highest. No fights happened after the second round. When we did see a fight, it was between Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak, in what was likely his first-ever fight. Therein lies the answer. It's not the usual suspects dropping the gloves these days, because the usual suspects are not in the lineup. Reaves, who is Toronto's enforcer, hasn't played a single game in the playoffs. Florida's A.J. Greer, who fought six times in the regular season, has been a healthy scratch in four of the Panthers' nine playoff games. You can't fight if your fighters on the bench or are in the press box. And with the fighters no longer policing the action, the games are getting chippier and more violent. What they are not getting is more punchy. Nor should you expect it. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
League Issues Stern Warning to Canadiens and Capitals
Thomas Chabot: 'It's Going to Take Our Best Game' as Senators Look to Extend Series in Toronto After three straight overtime games, the mighty Battle of Ontario shifts back to Toronto on Tuesday night. The Ottawa Senators kept their season alive with a 4–3 overtime win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday, as Jake Sanderson netted the game-winner with a floating wrist shot from the left point.
Vancouver Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer tells fans 'we're just getting started'
Michael Andlauer is confident the step the Ottawa Senators took this season is only the beginning. The Senators owner wrote an open letter to the club's fans on Wednesday morning after the club made the playoffs for the first time in eight years this spring and Andlauer believes this club is headed in the right direction. 'Thanks for coming along for the ride,' Andlauer wrote in the letter published on the club's website . 'We're just getting started.' Eliminated in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first Battle of Ontario in 21 years in Game 6 last Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators were saluted by their faithful before they left the ice. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Andlauer couldn't say enough good things about the fans who stuck around after the final buzzer to cheer the Senators after they left the ice and chant the name of captain Brady Tkachuk. It was an emotional end to what will be looked on as a successful season. 'Sens fans, even though our season ended sooner than we liked, I wanted to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your unwavering and amazing support,' Andlauer wrote. 'Your passion was on full display at our home games in the playoffs. I've never seen anything like the ovation inside Canadian Tire Centre when we tied Game 6 in the third period. 'I'm not sure there is another fan base that would have stayed in their seats to cheer on their team after they were eliminated. If the empty-net goal by Ridly Greig was the highlight from last year, certainly your passion and appreciation in Game 6 — which sent shivers down my spine — was the highlight of this season.' Andlauer and his partners purchased the Senators from the estate of the late Eugene Melnyk for $950 million US in a deal that closed in September 2023. They have done a good job of stabilizing the organization. The Senators ranked 25th in the league in average attendance during the regular season, with a 92.8% capacity of 17,306 fans per game in the 18,652-seat arena during 41 home games. That's down slightly from the average of 17,560 in 2023-24. The atmosphere down the stretch and in the three playoff games in Ottawa against the Leafs was something to behold. Fans gathered in the plaza outside the rink and enjoyed the fact that the city hadn't had post-season action in what felt like a lifetime. The Senators were able to add new season-ticket holders during the run to the playoffs. The club went into the post-season with approximately 7,500 season-seat holders and was able to add new subscribers down the stretch, plus through the first round. Cyril Leeder, the club's chief executive officer and president, has stated publicly that the club needs to move closer to the league average of 11,000 season-ticket subscribers. Andlauer is confident the base will grow. 'When I purchased this team with my partners, I knew the grassroots of hockey ran deep in Ottawa-Gatineau. But I have come to realize that this is by far the most underrated hockey market in the world,' Andlauer said. 'Our fan base is authentic and it's the perfect match for this roster, which we've built on honesty, genuine care and work ethic.' The success on the ice was key to the excitement returning to this market. The Senators finished in the first wild-card spot in the East in Steve Staios' first full season as the president of hockey operations and general manager, along with coach Travis Green behind the bench. The core of this group, with captain Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto and Josh Norris, was put in place by former GM Pierre Dorion, but needed better players around them. Staios made a key move by acquiring goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins. The club then signed veteran forwards David Perron and Michael Amadio in free agency. The Senators also acquired veteran blueliner Nick Jensen from the Washington Capitals. Green and his staff did a solid job of getting his team to commit to defence to have success. The group bought in and the Senators hosted playoff games in Ottawa for the first time in eight years. 'We took a great foundational step forward this season, and I am so thankful to our architect, Steady' Steve Staios (as you fans have dubbed him), for his hard work and vision,' Andlauer wrote. 'And to Travis Green and his coaching staff for giving our players the ability to thrive. 'Ultimately, our players stepped up and worked harder and cared more for each other. Our dressing room has a family atmosphere we have not seen in a while, and the players are the ones who deserve your praise.' bgarrioch@
Calgary Herald
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer tells fans 'we're just getting started'
Michael Andlauer is confident the step the Ottawa Senators took this season is only the beginning. Article content Article content The Senators owner wrote an open letter to the club's fans on Wednesday morning after the club made the playoffs for the first time in eight years this spring and Andlauer believes this club is headed in the right direction. Article content 'Thanks for coming along for the ride,' Andlauer wrote in the letter published on the club's website. 'We're just getting started.' Article content Article content Eliminated in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first Battle of Ontario in 21 years in Game 6 last Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators were saluted by their faithful before they left the ice. Article content Andlauer couldn't say enough good things about the fans who stuck around after the final buzzer to cheer the Senators after they left the ice and chant the name of captain Brady Tkachuk. Article content Article content It was an emotional end to what will be looked on as a successful season. Article content 'Sens fans, even though our season ended sooner than we liked, I wanted to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your unwavering and amazing support,' Andlauer wrote. Article content 'Your passion was on full display at our home games in the playoffs. I've never seen anything like the ovation inside Canadian Tire Centre when we tied Game 6 in the third period. Article content 'I'm not sure there is another fan base that would have stayed in their seats to cheer on their team after they were eliminated. If the empty-net goal by Ridly Greig was the highlight from last year, certainly your passion and appreciation in Game 6 — which sent shivers down my spine — was the highlight of this season.' Article content Andlauer and his partners purchased the Senators from the estate of the late Eugene Melnyk for $950 million US in a deal that closed in September 2023. They have done a good job of stabilizing the organization. Article content Article content The Senators ranked 25th in the league in average attendance during the regular season, with a 92.8% capacity of 17,306 fans per game in the 18,652-seat arena during 41 home games. Article content The atmosphere down the stretch and in the three playoff games in Ottawa against the Leafs was something to behold. Fans gathered in the plaza outside the rink and enjoyed the fact that the city hadn't had post-season action in what felt like a lifetime. Article content The Senators were able to add new season-ticket holders during the run to the playoffs. The club went into the post-season with approximately 7,500 season-seat holders and was able to add new subscribers down the stretch, plus through the first round. Article content Cyril Leeder, the club's chief executive officer and president, has stated publicly that the club needs to move closer to the league average of 11,000 season-ticket subscribers. Andlauer is confident the base will grow.
