The Toronto Maple Leafs have been playing a brand of hockey that isn’t always exciting, but it’s definitely effective. The team’s recent 1-0 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens and a safe 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday perfectly illustrate how the Leafs have embraced a “low-event” style of play. Under head coach Craig Berube, who took over last summer, the Leafs have made some key changes that could help them in the playoffs.
A Shift in Playing Style
While the Leafs still rely heavily on their star forwards—Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares—Berube has guided the team to play a safer, more calculated style of hockey. This “low-event” approach focuses on reducing mistakes, playing smarter, and avoiding high-risk plays. The emphasis is now on defensive responsibility, physicality, and resilience.
This shift in style has been particularly noticeable on defense. The Leafs have dramatically improved in this area, lowering their goals-against average from 3.18 last season (21st in the NHL) to 2.85 this year, ranking 12th in the league. This defensive improvement has made the team harder to beat and more difficult to play against, which is crucial as the playoffs approach.
Physicality and Resilience: Key to Leafs’ Success
One of the biggest changes under Berube has been a focus on physicality and defensive structure. The Leafs have been much tougher this season, battling hard on the puck, blocking shots, and being more aggressive in their defensive zone.
Berube has been especially happy with the team’s ability to bounce back after losses. For example, after a tough defeat to the Florida Panthers on April 8, the Leafs came back strong to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning, showcasing their competitiveness and commitment to playing hard.
Berube has emphasized the importance of a physical, competitive mindset throughout the season, noting that even on back-to-back nights, the Leafs showed resilience against tough opponents like the Lightning. Despite some lapses in their play, such as their loss to the Panthers, Berube was pleased with how the Leafs responded the very next night.
The Supporting Cast: Key Contributors to the Physical Game
While Toronto’s stars are still at the forefront of their success, Berube has also been impressed with the work of the supporting players. Left winger Steven Lorentz, center Max Domi, left winger Scott Laughton, and left winger Bobby McMann, as well as defensemen Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, and Simon Benoit, have all stepped up to bring the physical edge Berube has asked for.
These players contribute to the physicality not only by taking the body but also by being tough around the net, boxing out, battling for pucks, and blocking shots.
For Berube, it’s not just about the hits but about the overall commitment to being hard to play against. McMann, who recently got into a fight with Brayden Point in the win over the Lightning, echoed this sentiment, stating that the Leafs’ success comes from the collective effort of every player to stick together and support each other on the ice.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be the most exciting team in the league right now, but their new, smarter approach to hockey is paying off. With improved defense, physicality, and a focus on resilience, the Leafs are becoming a much tougher team to beat. Their supporting cast has embraced this new style, making the team more complete.
As the playoffs draw closer, this “low-event” game could be exactly what the Leafs need to make a deep run. While their star players continue to lead the charge, the team as a whole has bought into Berube’s system, and that could make all the difference when it matters most.
