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Toronto Star
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Max Pacioretty is giving the Leafs size, scoring and a new view of the number 67
Max Pacioretty wears No. 67, a number fans of the Maple Leafs have an uneasy relationship with. After all, 1967 was the year the team last won the Stanley Cup and fans in other buildings will sometimes chant 'sixty-seven' to remind the players on the ice. It's the number Pacioretty has worn since he joined the NHL in 2008 with Montreal. He wore it in Vegas, Carolina and Washington and when he got to Toronto in September, well, the number was available. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Asked in training camp why he went with 67, he was ready with an answer. 'I hope to bring the team luck with that number,' he said. As the regular season went on, No. 67 didn't have much luck. Pacioretty missed more than half the season to a variety of ailments and a late-season salary cap squeeze that kept him out even though he was likely healthy enough to play. Pacioretty was coming off double Achilles surgery when the Leafs took a chance on him, even though he hadn't played anything close to a full season since playing in 71 games in 2019-20 with the Golden Knights. He took a chance on the Leafs, too, like Patrick Marleau, Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton before him. He assessed the talent in Toronto and decided this was the best place to try to win that elusive Stanley Cup. And with the Leafs up two games to one over the Florida Panthers in the second round, Pacioretty has made it closer to that goal than any of them. Leafs Brad Marchand haunts Leafs once again with Panthers' overtime winner in Game 3. 'He's tenacious' The ex-Boston Bruin shot towards the slot and got a favourable deflection at 15:27 to give 'He's had a tough couple of years going back with the injuries,' Leafs coach Craig Berube said. 'His dedication when he was injured, working to get back, gave him the opportunity to come back and play good hockey. 'Max has had a pretty good career as a player in all facets … He's physical and has the ability to make plays and put the puck in the net at the same time. He's been a good National Hockey League player for a long time, and he's playing some good hockey for us right now.' It's hard to imagine the Leafs being in this spot without him. He sat the first two games in the first round while Nick Robertson played his way out of a winning lineup by taking needless penalties. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Now Pacioretty has become a key part of the team by doing what he set his mind on when the season began: He remade his game. Brad Marchand scored in overtime as the Florida Panthers topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 to cut their deficit in the teams' second-round playoff series to 2-1. (May 10, 2025 / The Canadian Press) Once a goal-scorer, Pacioretty decided to use his size — six-foot-two, 217 pounds – to become a power forward. He would be the guy to take the hit to get the puck. He fit in on John Tavares's left wing, two veterans — Pacioretty is 36, Tavares 33 — playing old-school hockey while William Nylander would tantalize on the right wing. 'We spoke about the physicality and playing bigger teams,' Pacioretty said. 'That's where I can slot in and help the team and the line in that area. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm trying to get the puck to two of the best players on the planet as much as I can and make life a little bit easier on them and harder on the opponent. 'And at this stage, I know what's effective and that's give them the puck.' It's among the most productive lines of the post-season. Pacioretty and Nylander are both on four-game point streaks. Nylander, with 15 points, was tied for the lead in playoff scoring heading into Saturday's games. Nylander and Tavares each had five goals, tied for third in the post-season. Pacioretty is on a point-a-game run with two goals and five assists in seven games. 'I'm playing with two unbelievable players,' he said. 'John has done a good a good job of defending well, and taking us from defence to offence. William's skills are, well I keep raving about it. I haven't seen anything like it in my life. I'm just along for the ride.' Leafs After a stint with the Marlies, Ryan Reaves is ready to help the Maple Leafs in the playoffs however he can With no salary-cap limitations on NHL rosters in the playoffs, the tough guy is back with the Robert Svehla (2002-03), Brandon Kozun (2014-15) and Radim Zahorna (2022-23) are the only other Leafs to have dared to wear No. 67. None have worn it as well as Pacioretty, the fifth player in Leafs playoff history with a four-game point streak at age 36 or older. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'We battled him through his entire career, played against him when he was in Montreal and … he's done an unbelievable job,' Nylander said. 'It's been a lot of fun playing with him. 'The way he's come back from injury and made his way into the lineup and becoming a key player for us, I mean, it's incredible.' Notes -Berube said goalie Anthony Stolarz is 'progressing' but hasn't resumed skating. -Mitch Marner, with points in his last four games, has 62 career playoff points, passing Wendel Clark (61) for fifth on the franchise's all-time list. -Morgan Rielly is a on three-game points streak and is second among Leafs defencemen in the playoffs with 47, two behind Börje Salming.
Toronto Star
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Viral video shows fans serenading Maple Leafs anthem singer with ‘O Canada' on Toronto's subway
Toronto Maple Leafs fans are in the singing spirit with a playoffs series lead in Round 2 against the Florida Panthers. An online video is going viral for showing fans serenading the team's anthem singer Natalie Morris with an impromptu rendition of 'O Canada' on the TTC subway. The singalong was initially posted to TikTok Thursday before the Leafs put it out on their social media Friday afternoon. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Leafs Nation I tell ya 💙 Singing O'Canada to our anthem singer, Natalie Morris, on the subway is the definition of Passion 🥹 — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 9, 2025 'Singing O Canada to our anthem singer, Natalie Morris, on the subway is the definition of Passion,' the team wrote. Fans can be heard yelling 'we love you Natalie' during pauses before a 'Let's go Leafs!' chant breaks out after the anthem. The subway car, which is flooded with blue-and-white jerseys, appears to be headed toward St. Patrick station when the video was captured. Morris took to social media to share the subway serenade from her point-of-view. In a video on Instagram and TikTok, the singer records herself smiling and nodding along to the fans' rendition of 'O Canada.' As she shows the groups on both sides of her, Morris begins singing along before joining in on the 'Go Leafs, go!' chant, pumping her fist and cheering. Morris has been belting out the anthem for the team since 2022. She previously appeared on Season 4 of 'Canada's Got Talent' and finished as a finalist. The Leafs, who lead the second-round, seven-game series two games to one, play Game 4 on Sunday. They lost 5-4 against the Panthers on Friday night to an overtime goal by longtime nemesis Brad Marchand. Leafs Brad Marchand haunts Leafs once again with Panthers' overtime winner in Game 3. 'He's tenacious' The ex-Boston Bruin shot towards the slot and got a favourable deflection at 15:27 to give
Hamilton Spectator
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Max Pacioretty is giving the Leafs size, scoring and a new view of the number 67
Max Pacioretty wears No. 67, a number fans of the Maple Leafs have an uneasy relationship with. After all, 1967 was the year the team last won the Stanley Cup and fans in other buildings will sometimes chant 'sixty-seven' to remind the players on the ice. It's the number Pacioretty has worn since he joined the NHL in 2008 with Montreal. He wore it in Vegas, Carolina and Washington and when he got to Toronto in September, well, the number was available. Asked in training camp why he went with 67, he was ready with an answer. 'I hope to bring the team luck with that number,' he said. As the regular season went on, No. 67 didn't have much luck. Pacioretty missed more than half the season to a variety of ailments and a late-season salary cap squeeze that kept him out even though he was likely healthy enough to play. Pacioretty was coming off double Achilles surgery when the Leafs took a chance on him, even though he hadn't played anything close to a full season since playing in 71 games in 2019-20 with the Golden Knights. He took a chance on the Leafs, too, like Patrick Marleau, Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton before him. He assessed the talent in Toronto and decided this was the best place to try to win that elusive Stanley Cup. And with the Leafs up two games to one over the Florida Panthers in the second round, Pacioretty has made it closer to that goal than any of them. The ex-Boston Bruin shot towards the slot and got a favourable deflection at 15:27 to give 'He's had a tough couple of years going back with the injuries,' Leafs coach Craig Berube said. 'His dedication when he was injured, working to get back, gave him the opportunity to come back and play good hockey. 'Max has had a pretty good career as a player in all facets … He's physical and has the ability to make plays and put the puck in the net at the same time. He's been a good National Hockey League player for a long time, and he's playing some good hockey for us right now.' It's hard to imagine the Leafs being in this spot without him. He sat the first two games in the first round while Nick Robertson played his way out of a winning lineup by taking needless penalties. Now Pacioretty has become a key part of the team by doing what he set his mind on when the season began: He remade his game. Brad Marchand scored in overtime as the Florida Panthers topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 to cut their deficit in the teams' second-round playoff series to 2-1. (May 10, 2025 / The Canadian Press) Once a goal-scorer, Pacioretty decided to use his size — six-foot-two, 217 pounds – to become a power forward. He would be the guy to take the hit to get the puck. He fit in on John Tavares's left wing, two veterans — Pacioretty is 36, Tavares 33 — playing old-school hockey while William Nylander would tantalize on the right wing. 'We spoke about the physicality and playing bigger teams,' Pacioretty said. 'That's where I can slot in and help the team and the line in that area. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm trying to get the puck to two of the best players on the planet as much as I can and make life a little bit easier on them and harder on the opponent. 'And at this stage, I know what's effective and that's give them the puck.' It's among the most productive lines of the post-season. Pacioretty and Nylander are both on four-game point streaks. Nylander, with 15 points , was tied for the lead in playoff scoring heading into Saturday's games. Nylander and Tavares each had five goals, tied for third in the post-season. Pacioretty is on a point-a-game run with two goals and five assists in seven games. 'I'm playing with two unbelievable players,' he said. 'John has done a good a good job of defending well, and taking us from defence to offence. William's skills are, well I keep raving about it. I haven't seen anything like it in my life. I'm just along for the ride.' With no salary-cap limitations on NHL rosters in the playoffs, the tough guy is back with the Robert Svehla (2002-03), Brandon Kozun (2014-15) and Radim Zahorna (2022-23) are the only other Leafs to have dared to wear No. 67. None have worn it as well as Pacioretty, the fifth player in Leafs playoff history with a four-game point streak at age 36 or older. 'We battled him through his entire career, played against him when he was in Montreal and … he's done an unbelievable job,' Nylander said. 'It's been a lot of fun playing with him. 'The way he's come back from injury and made his way into the lineup and becoming a key player for us, I mean, it's incredible.' -Berube said goalie Anthony Stolarz is 'progressing' but hasn't resumed skating. -Mitch Marner, with points in his last four games, has 62 career playoff points, passing Wendel Clark (61) for fifth on the franchise's all-time list. -Morgan Rielly is a on three-game points streak and is second among Leafs defencemen in the playoffs with 47, two behind Börje Salming.
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Brad Marchand haunts Leafs once again with Panthers' overtime winner in Game 3. ‘He's tenacious'
History will say, and prognosticators could have predicted, that Brad Marchand got the Florida Panthers back in the series against the Toronto Maple Leafs . The ex-Boston Bruin shot towards the slot, and got a favourable deflection off the body of Morgan Rielly, and the Panthers now hope they've turned around their second-round series with a 5-4 overtime win. Marchand is a noted Leafs killer whose success against the Maple Leafs dates back to the 2013 seven-game series featuring the Phil Kessel-era Leafs. He has 12 goals and 21 assists in 31 playoff games against Toronto. 'His work ethic, he's hard on pucks, he's tenacious,' said Florida teammate Sam Reinhart. 'Players like that shine at this time of year.' BRAD MARCHAND 🫡 His @Energizer overtime winner gives the @FlaPanthers the Game 3 victory! #StanleyCup The Leafs have never beaten a team with Marchand on it in a post-season series. 'Marchand adds creativity to his line,' said Leafs head coach Craig Berube . 'He's a good player, makes plays, subtle little things he does on the ice. Makes them a more dangerous line.' His Bruins beat the Leafs in 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2024, each series going to seven games. 'He plays hard, always plays hard,' said Leafs centre John Tavares. On a night of funny bounces, Marchand made sure the Panthers got the last one with his winner off Rielly, who had actually forced overtime with a lucky bounce of his own. 'That's how pucks are going in right now; it's not just this series,' said Rielly. 'In overtime, we had our opportunities. It's a bounce, that's what happens in overtime,' said Berube. Neurosurgeon Charles Tator called the amount of force 'gigantic,' while Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation suggested the Neurosurgeon Charles Tator called the amount of force 'gigantic,' while Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation suggested the The Maple Leafs, of course, hope Friday night's setback was just a blip. 'We're happy to be up in the series,' said Rielly. 'Tonight wasn't the result we wanted, but there are good things going on. We'll try to clean up the areas that need to be addressed. We're in a good position. It's important to stay focussed.' Any way you look at it, it's a battle. A battle for space, for bounces, for earning the puck, for taking a hit, and scoring when it matters. Matthew Knies scored 23 seconds in the game — the fourth-fastest start to a playoff game in Leafs history. Tavares scored twice, tipping a Mitch Marner shot each time to establish a 3-1 lead. But it was Rielly who forced the overtime in the third period after Florida had asserted itself in the middle frame. Rielly got a lucky bounce after being the victim of a bad bounce in the second that helped the Panthers get back into the game. 'They're a good team,' said Tavares. 'We didn't execute as well playing through the pressure. We battled hard in the third, got some pressure back, earned an opportunity. Overtime just didn't go our way.' Rielly simply took a shot — the lesson all teams ought to learn from in the tight-checking post-season. It was a snap shot from 47 feet that Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got a pad on, but the rebound hit defenceman Seth Jones and bounced into the net with 9:04 remaining in the third. Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, left, and defenceman Brandon Carlo can't stop a goal going in from the Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich during the second period of Game 3. It was a night of close calls and lucky bounces that will have both goalies under the microscope. The Leafs came ever-so-close to taking a 3-0 series lead with overtime chances by William Nylander and Knies but Bobrovsky had his best game of the series. Joseph Woll's game will be dissected for ages, the Leafs netminder allowing three goals over nine minutes 54 second period that turned a 3-1 Toronto lead into a 4-3 deficit. 'I thought he was really good,' Berube said of Woll. 'I didn't love the fourth goal, but other than that I thought he was solid.' Woll took over the net halfway through Game 1 of the series when Anthony Stolarz left the game, suffering an apparent concussion . Stolarz did not accompany the team to Florida and is an unlikely to be available for Sunday's Game 4 in Sunrise, Fla. 'Thought we played a strong game, especially in the third and overtime,' said Woll. 'The difference is the bounce one way. That's how playoff games go. Just got to reset. You just shake it off. Bounces go both ways. That's hockey.' The Leafs are still in the driver's seat. Teams that are up two games to one have won 391 series all-time, losing 177 (a .688 winning percentage). Rookie Dennis Hildeby backed up Woll for Game 3 after veteran Matt Murray had done so in Game 2. Murray was sick, Berube said. 'Whatever happens, we have to keep going, keep playing, keep pushing,' said Tavares. 'We know we can be better. We have to be.'
Toronto Star
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Brad Marchand haunts Leafs once again with Panthers' overtime winner in Game 3. ‘He's tenacious'
History will say, and prognosticators could have predicted, that Brad Marchand got the Florida Panthers back in the series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The ex-Boston Bruin shot towards the slot, and got a favourable deflection off the body of Morgan Rielly, and the Panthers now hope they've turned around their second-round series with a 5-4 overtime win. Marchand is a noted Leafs killer whose success against the Maple Leafs dates back to the 2013 seven-game series featuring the Phil Kessel-era Leafs. He has 12 goals and 21 assists in 31 playoff games against Toronto. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'His work ethic, he's hard on pucks, he's tenacious,' said Florida teammate Sam Reinhart. 'Players like that shine at this time of year.' BRAD MARCHAND 🫡 His @Energizer overtime winner gives the @FlaPanthers the Game 3 victory! #StanleyCup — NHL (@NHL) May 10, 2025 The Leafs have never beaten a team with Marchand on it in a post-season series. 'Marchand adds creativity to his line,' said Leafs head coach Craig Berube. 'He's a good player, makes plays, subtle little things he does on the ice. Makes them a more dangerous line.' His Bruins beat the Leafs in 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2024, each series going to seven games. 'He plays hard, always plays hard,' said Leafs centre John Tavares. On a night of funny bounces, Marchand made sure the Panthers got the last one with his winner off Rielly, who had actually forced overtime with a lucky bounce of his own. 'That's how pucks are going in right now; it's not just this series,' said Rielly. 'In overtime, we had our opportunities. It's a bounce, that's what happens in overtime,' said Berube. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Leafs Opinion Dave Feschuk: Florida Panther Sam Bennett thought he didn't hit Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz's head with 'a lot of force.' Here's what the concussion experts think Neurosurgeon Charles Tator called the amount of force 'gigantic,' while Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation suggested the Leafs Opinion Dave Feschuk: Florida Panther Sam Bennett thought he didn't hit Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz's head with 'a lot of force.' Here's what the concussion experts think Neurosurgeon Charles Tator called the amount of force 'gigantic,' while Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation suggested the The Maple Leafs, of course, hope Friday night's setback was just a blip. 'We're happy to be up in the series,' said Rielly. 'Tonight wasn't the result we wanted, but there are good things going on. We'll try to clean up the areas that need to be addressed. We're in a good position. It's important to stay focussed.' Any way you look at it, it's a battle. A battle for space, for bounces, for earning the puck, for taking a hit, and scoring when it matters. Fast start for Leafs Matthew Knies scored 23 seconds in the game — the fourth-fastest start to a playoff game in Leafs history. Tavares scored twice, tipping a Mitch Marner shot each time to establish a 3-1 lead. But it was Rielly who forced the overtime in the third period after Florida had asserted itself in the middle frame. Rielly got a lucky bounce after being the victim of a bad bounce in the second that helped the Panthers get back into the game. 'They're a good team,' said Tavares. 'We didn't execute as well playing through the pressure. We battled hard in the third, got some pressure back, earned an opportunity. Overtime just didn't go our way.' Rielly simply took a shot — the lesson all teams ought to learn from in the tight-checking post-season. It was a snap shot from 47 feet that Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got a pad on, but the rebound hit defenceman Seth Jones and bounced into the net with 9:04 remaining in the third. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, left, and defenceman Brandon Carlo can't stop a goal going in from the Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich during the second period of Game 3. Eliot J. Schechter NHLI via Gett About the goalies ... It was a night of close calls and lucky bounces that will have both goalies under the microscope. The Leafs came ever-so-close to taking a 3-0 series lead with overtime chances by William Nylander and Knies but Bobrovsky had his best game of the series. Joseph Woll's game will be dissected for ages, the Leafs netminder allowing three goals over nine minutes 54 second period that turned a 3-1 Toronto lead into a 4-3 deficit. 'I thought he was really good,' Berube said of Woll. 'I didn't love the fourth goal, but other than that I thought he was solid.' Woll took over the net halfway through Game 1 of the series when Anthony Stolarz left the game, suffering an apparent concussion. Stolarz did not accompany the team to Florida and is an unlikely to be available for Sunday's Game 4 in Sunrise, Fla. 'Thought we played a strong game, especially in the third and overtime,' said Woll. 'The difference is the bounce one way. That's how playoff games go. Just got to reset. You just shake it off. Bounces go both ways. That's hockey.' The Leafs are still in the driver's seat. Teams that are up two games to one have won 391 series all-time, losing 177 (a .688 winning percentage). Rookie Dennis Hildeby backed up Woll for Game 3 after veteran Matt Murray had done so in Game 2. Murray was sick, Berube said. 'Whatever happens, we have to keep going, keep playing, keep pushing,' said Tavares. 'We know we can be better. We have to be.'
