The 2024-2025 regular season is officially over for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a first-round series with the Ottawa Senators is now on the horizon. The team certainly did not bring their “A” game in the regular-season finale, but no Leafs player was injured and they still somehow found a way to win.
Advertisement
Matthew Knies set up Auston Matthews to open the scoring, but Austin Watson, Justin Holl and Alex DeBrincat responded to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-1 lead through forty. Philippe Myers, of all people, scored a highlight-reel goal to pull the Leafs within one in the third. Chris Tanev tied the game with two seconds left in regulation and Scott Laughton ended it in overtime.
While the Leafs were outplayed, I’m going to grade on a curve and make the overall team grade a B- for picking up a win while avoiding any injuries.
Philippe Myers: A+
Myers somehow danced around both Tyler Motte and Austin Watson before walking in to beat Cam Talbot on a highlight-reel goal. Every player on the Leafs bench had a huge smile on their face as Myers went through the handshake line.
who would’ve thought that Myers would have the best goal from a Leafs defender this season pic.twitter.com/xkg2kS2ney
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 18, 2025
Mitch Marner: A
Marner made an A+ pass to set up Knies for a tap-in opportunity seven minutes in, but his linemate hit the post. Fortunately for Marner, he ended up picking up a secondary assist at the end of the frame. He later made a gorgeous pass to set up Tanev for a game-tying goal with two seconds left in regulation.
The fourth line (Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, Calle Järnkrok): A
They were essentially the first line since Berube wanted to limit the minutes of his top six. They were trying at least a little bit harder than most of their teammates, and both Lorentz and Järnkrok picked up an assist on Myers’ goal. Laughton eventually scored the game-winner on a rare overtime shift for him. I trust this unit defensively, and they’ve played well enough in recent games that they could stick together to start the playoffs.
Auston Matthews: A-
Matthews looked sharp in the first, starting an impressive tic-tac-toe passing play with his linemates seven minutes in and opening the scoring towards the end of the period. He scored by driving to the net, corralling a nifty pass from Knies and making a quick forehand-to-backhand move before slipping the puck past an outstretched Talbot.
Advertisement
Matthew Knies: B+
Knies hit the post seven minutes in, and given how empty the net was, he’ll be seeing that play in his nightmares. He bounced back nicely at the end of the first, dancing around Simon Edvinsson to find Matthews in front for an impressive assist.
Pontus Holmberg: B+
Holmberg played heavy hockey in the first and won several puck battles. His line wasn’t able to create much offensively, but he definitely looked like one of the hardest-working players on the team. I’m interested to see if Berube uses him at centre in Game 1.
Chris Tanev: B
The Leafs gave up plenty of chances in the first half of the game, but Tanev was on the ice for little to nothing against. Unlike most games, he was kept off the penalty kill and wasn’t interested in risking an injury by blocking plenty of shots.
CHRIS TANEV 🚨
Ties the game with 1.8 seconds left in regulation pic.twitter.com/iArKtsXWoI
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 18, 2025
Dakota Mermis: B
Mermis made a turnover in the final minute of the first that immediately led to a goal against. However, he made up for it and then some by setting up Laughton for the overtime winner.
Brandon Carlo: B
Carlo failed to get in the shooting lane ahead of DeBrincat’s power-play goal, and frankly, I’m okay with that given the stakes of this game. The Leafs did well to limit chances against during his minutes at even strength.
Morgan Rielly: B
He was on for a ton of low-danger shots against early, but the Leafs ended up faring quite well in his minutes by expected goals. I’m interested to see if he can elevate his game in the playoffs once again.
Joseph Woll: C+
Woll stopped 12 of 13 in the first, with the only goal coming in the final minute. The goal certainly wasn’t on him: Mermis gave the puck away and Watson immediately roofed a perfect backhand.
Advertisement
Woll wasn’t as sharp in the second, as Holl’s point shot found its way past him two minutes in and DeBrincat fired a power-play one-timer a few minutes later. Dylan Larkin and Albert Johansson hit the post later in the frame, and while Woll was peppered with shots, he didn’t seem to be seeing the puck well. He bounced back in the third and finished with 31 saves on 34 shots to pick up the victory.
Bobby McMann: C+
His minutes were quite boring. He’s usually a fast forward who works extremely hard on the forecheck, but that simply wasn’t in the plans for a rather meaningless game.
Simon Benoit: C+
Benoit had a quality chance in slot early third, but he was on the ice for plenty of chances against. He racked up 19:44 as Berube tried to rest players like Tanev.
Nick Robertson: C
Robertson had a rough turnover in the early second, which is exactly what he can’t do against Ottawa. He had a half-decent chance in the third, but I guarantee the turnover is what Berube will remember.
The second line (Max Domi, John Tavares, William Nylander) – D
Let’s just say they didn’t break a sweat. Tavares took two offensive-zone penalties in the second and Domi couldn’t complete a pass. Nylander finally tried to get creative and tie the game up in the final minutes, but he gave the puck away twice.
Game Score
What’s next?
The Battle of Ontario starts Sunday at 7 p.m. on Sportsnet.
(Photo of Philippe Myers: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Andre Agassi notches win in professional pickleball debut with star Anna Leigh Waters
Tennis legend and eight-time Grand Slam Champion Andre Agassi walked away with a win in his professional pickleball debut on Wednesday, alongside star Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed pro doubles event at the U.S. Open Pickleball. The pair walked away with a 2-1 win against youngsters Tristan Dussault and Stevie Petropouleas, advancing to the third round of the tournament, taking place in Naples, Florida."Coming out with Anna Leigh, I was as nervous as a gypsy with a mortgage," Agassi joked in his post-win presser. No doubt, he chose the perfect partner with whom to make his debut; Waters, 18, is the No. 1 ranked women's pickleball player in the world, having gone pro at the astounding age of 12.Though Agassi and Waters walked away with the win, Dussault and Petropouleas didn't make things easy for them, clawing their way […]
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to make season debut on Sunday, first start since 2022
HOUSTON — Lance McCullers Jr.’s two-year journey back to a major-league mound is nearing its completion.The 31-year-old is scheduled to start for the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox, ending McCullers’ 915-day absence from the team’s rotation.McCullers missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow. A slew of setbacks in his recovery also sidelined McCullers for the entire 2024 season.Advertisement“I am really looking forward to having him on the mound,” Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point. This whole entire team and the city should be excited about getting Lance back.”McCullers has thrown 210 innings since signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension prior to the 2021 season. He boasts a 2.96 ERA and a 142 ERA+ […]
Grading college basketball’s 2021 coaching carousel: How hires fared at UNC, Arizona, Indiana and more
Getty Images You know what's one of the least logical concepts in a sports-media culture filled with them? Assigning immediate "grades" before a player or coach has done a thing. We do it with the NFL and NBA drafts, we do it with coaching hirings. I've never liked the concept. Sure, it gets attention/viewership/readership, but it's not based in anything logical. (None other than Scott Van Pelt agrees with me.) But grading something after, you know, we have results to actually grade? That's my jam. So here I am, back again, opting for the more patient and practical route on college basketball hirings. As usual, I'm doing a four-years-later appraisal on power-conference coaches, which means the hiring cycle of 2021 is now up for inspection. (For previous report cards, here are my four-years-later grades from hirings in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.) The 2021 carousel was the first […]
Why the Maple Leafs should explore major lineup changes in Game 6, but probably won’t
What do you do now if you’re Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube?Stay the course and try to maintain some calm? Or, after two straight losses in elimination games, shake up the lineup for Game 6 in Ottawa?Throughout his first season with the Leafs, Berube was more apt to stay the course with certain pockets of his lineup. He was much less prone to experimentation than his predecessor, Sheldon Keefe (which stings at a time like this), and seems inclined to roll, again, with a similar look. Craig Berube says he’ll look at #leafs lineup changes for Game 6, but it doesn’t sound like a big shakeup is coming: “I don’t want to change too much. I think there’s been a lot of good.” — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 30, 2025The time might be right to get shaking, though, […]
Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Knicks? Plus 4 other trade destinations
<!--> With the Milwaukee Bucks' season officially ending after their Game # loss to the Indiana Pacers, it marks the third straight year they've flamed out in the first round of the NBA playoffs. They're four seasons removed from the franchise's only NBA title, back in 2021. And they've struggled to surround franchise cornerstone, Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the necessary pieces to contend since that 2021 season. Matters were only made worse when his sidekick, Damian Lillard, tore his Achilles during Game 4 on Sunday. Lillard, who is owed $102.9 million over the next two seasons, makes up for 35% of the Bucks' payroll. With him set to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season, it will not only decrease Milwaukee's ceiling but make it more difficult to build around the edges and maximize Antetokounmpo. A Bucks roster that got two […]
2025 Indy 500 Entry List: All 34 drivers and 12 teams
<!--> The field for the 2025 Indy 500 is taking shape, with teams across the NTT INDYCAR SERIES announcing their entries for this year’s race. From returning champions to exciting rookies, here's the full Indy 500 entry list, including all the confirmed drivers set to compete at the Brickyard.-->2025 Indy 500 Entry ListJosef Newgarden (#2, Team Penske)Scott McLaughlin (#3, Team Penske)David Malukas (#4, A.J. Foyt Racing)Pato O'Ward (#5, Arrow McLaren)Nolan Siegel (#6, Arrow McLaren)Hélio Castroneves (#06, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian)Christian Lundgaard (#7, Arrow McLaren)Kyffin Simpson (#8, Chip Ganassi Racing)Scott Dixon (#9, Chip Ganassi Racing)Álex Palou (#10, Chip Ganassi Racing)Will Power (#12, Team Penske)Santino Ferrucci (#14, A.J. Foyt Racing)Graham Rahal (#15, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing)Kyle Larson (#17, Arrow McLaren with Rick Hendrick)Rinus VeeKay (#18, Dale Coyne Racing)Alexander Rossi (#20, Ed Carpenter Racing)Christian Rasmussen (#21, Ed Carpenter Racing)Ryan Hunter-Reay (#23, DRR-Cusick […]
Related
Andre Agassi notches win in professional pickleball debut with star Anna Leigh Waters
Tennis legend and eight-time Grand Slam Champion Andre Agassi walked away with a win in his professional pickleball debut on Wednesday, alongside star Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed pro doubles event at the U.S. Open Pickleball. The pair walked away with a 2-1 win against youngsters Tristan Dussault and Stevie Petropouleas, advancing to the third round of the tournament, taking place in Naples, Florida."Coming out with Anna Leigh, I was as nervous as a gypsy with a mortgage," Agassi joked in his post-win presser. No doubt, he chose the perfect partner with whom to make his debut; Waters, 18, is the No. 1 ranked women's pickleball player in the world, having gone pro at the astounding age of 12.Though Agassi and Waters walked away with the win, Dussault and Petropouleas didn't make things easy for them, clawing their way […]
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to make season debut on Sunday, first start since 2022
HOUSTON — Lance McCullers Jr.’s two-year journey back to a major-league mound is nearing its completion.The 31-year-old is scheduled to start for the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox, ending McCullers’ 915-day absence from the team’s rotation.McCullers missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow. A slew of setbacks in his recovery also sidelined McCullers for the entire 2024 season.Advertisement“I am really looking forward to having him on the mound,” Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point. This whole entire team and the city should be excited about getting Lance back.”McCullers has thrown 210 innings since signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension prior to the 2021 season. He boasts a 2.96 ERA and a 142 ERA+ […]
Grading college basketball’s 2021 coaching carousel: How hires fared at UNC, Arizona, Indiana and more
Getty Images You know what's one of the least logical concepts in a sports-media culture filled with them? Assigning immediate "grades" before a player or coach has done a thing. We do it with the NFL and NBA drafts, we do it with coaching hirings. I've never liked the concept. Sure, it gets attention/viewership/readership, but it's not based in anything logical. (None other than Scott Van Pelt agrees with me.) But grading something after, you know, we have results to actually grade? That's my jam. So here I am, back again, opting for the more patient and practical route on college basketball hirings. As usual, I'm doing a four-years-later appraisal on power-conference coaches, which means the hiring cycle of 2021 is now up for inspection. (For previous report cards, here are my four-years-later grades from hirings in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.) The 2021 carousel was the first […]
Why the Maple Leafs should explore major lineup changes in Game 6, but probably won’t
What do you do now if you’re Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube?Stay the course and try to maintain some calm? Or, after two straight losses in elimination games, shake up the lineup for Game 6 in Ottawa?Throughout his first season with the Leafs, Berube was more apt to stay the course with certain pockets of his lineup. He was much less prone to experimentation than his predecessor, Sheldon Keefe (which stings at a time like this), and seems inclined to roll, again, with a similar look. Craig Berube says he’ll look at #leafs lineup changes for Game 6, but it doesn’t sound like a big shakeup is coming: “I don’t want to change too much. I think there’s been a lot of good.” — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 30, 2025The time might be right to get shaking, though, […]
Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Knicks? Plus 4 other trade destinations
<!--> With the Milwaukee Bucks' season officially ending after their Game # loss to the Indiana Pacers, it marks the third straight year they've flamed out in the first round of the NBA playoffs. They're four seasons removed from the franchise's only NBA title, back in 2021. And they've struggled to surround franchise cornerstone, Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the necessary pieces to contend since that 2021 season. Matters were only made worse when his sidekick, Damian Lillard, tore his Achilles during Game 4 on Sunday. Lillard, who is owed $102.9 million over the next two seasons, makes up for 35% of the Bucks' payroll. With him set to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season, it will not only decrease Milwaukee's ceiling but make it more difficult to build around the edges and maximize Antetokounmpo. A Bucks roster that got two […]
2025 Indy 500 Entry List: All 34 drivers and 12 teams
<!--> The field for the 2025 Indy 500 is taking shape, with teams across the NTT INDYCAR SERIES announcing their entries for this year’s race. From returning champions to exciting rookies, here's the full Indy 500 entry list, including all the confirmed drivers set to compete at the Brickyard.-->2025 Indy 500 Entry ListJosef Newgarden (#2, Team Penske)Scott McLaughlin (#3, Team Penske)David Malukas (#4, A.J. Foyt Racing)Pato O'Ward (#5, Arrow McLaren)Nolan Siegel (#6, Arrow McLaren)Hélio Castroneves (#06, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian)Christian Lundgaard (#7, Arrow McLaren)Kyffin Simpson (#8, Chip Ganassi Racing)Scott Dixon (#9, Chip Ganassi Racing)Álex Palou (#10, Chip Ganassi Racing)Will Power (#12, Team Penske)Santino Ferrucci (#14, A.J. Foyt Racing)Graham Rahal (#15, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing)Kyle Larson (#17, Arrow McLaren with Rick Hendrick)Rinus VeeKay (#18, Dale Coyne Racing)Alexander Rossi (#20, Ed Carpenter Racing)Christian Rasmussen (#21, Ed Carpenter Racing)Ryan Hunter-Reay (#23, DRR-Cusick […]
Be the first to leave a comment