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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews celebrates with forward William Nylander and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson after scoring the winning goal against the New York Rangers in overtime (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Matthews, Nylander, Stolarz, Berube & Joshua

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Nov 4, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Some games tell you something about the potential of a team’s soul — not just their skill. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, yesterday’s contest started as a nightmare and ended as a reminder of what they can be. The Pittsburgh Penguins owned the first forty minutes. They won every puck battle, every zone exit, every chance off the rush. It was all Penguins.

Toronto looked like a team skating through fog, committing turnovers that would make an Atom-league coach blush. By the end of the second period, the boos were deserved. The Maple Leafs had just seven shots on goal and all the structure of a beer-league squad. Anthony Stolarz looked shaky, the defence more than a step behind, and the forwards were watching the game, not playing it.

And then something snapped. Somewhere between the second and third, head coach Craig Berube must’ve peeled the paint off the walls, because what hit the ice after intermission wasn’t the same team. Auston Matthews and William Nylander came out like men on a mission, and within 10 minutes, Scotiabank Arena had come alive again. It was chaos and magic rolled into one — a comeback that rewrote the story of their season, if not their identity. The final score was 4-3 Maple Leafs.

Item One: Matthews and Nylander Take Over

When the game looked like it had gone as low as it could go, Toronto’s stars delivered. Matthews showed up as the captain who’s been searching for that defining leadership moment. He took it, both offensively and defensively, and skated away with the game. His breakaway goal, set up by Jake McCabe, shifted everything. You could feel it in the building. And then came Nylander, skating like he had something to prove. A slick backhander, his fourth goal of the season, brought Toronto roaring back to life.

These weren’t fancy, east/west plays. They were hard-earned goals built on hustle, not highlight reels. That’s Berube hockey — win battles, go to the net, make something happen. For once, Toronto’s stars didn’t just lead on the scoresheet; they led with effort.

Item Two: Anthony Stolarz Finds Redemption

It’s easy to forget the early goals against when the ending’s this good. Stolarz looked shaky early, beaten twice with a high glove and fighting the puck. But when it mattered, he settled in. His composure in the third period gave Toronto a backbone — something this team has lacked far too often.

After the game, Stolarz acknowledged that the team’s early play wasn’t good enough but credited their resilience in battling back. It was the kind of response you want from your starter — honest, accountable, and competitive. After challenging his teammates earlier in the season, he backed it up with a strong performance when it mattered. The third period was teamwork at its best.

Item Three: Berube’s Message Finally Lands

You could almost see Berube’s fingerprints on the third period. He’s been preaching engagement without the puck, and on this night, the Maple Leafs finally played that way. They won battles on the boards, outworked the Penguins down low, and turned effort into energy.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube (Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

It’s still early, but this felt like the first game where his voice carried. You don’t climb back from 3–0 by luck. You do it by competing — the one area where Berube demands more than anyone. If this team is going to grow, that third-period blueprint has to become the standard.

Item Four: Dakota Joshua: Making #81 His Own

Before the game, Dakota Joshua was interviewed about his testicular cancer battle. He talked about wearing number 81 — a number forever tied to Phil Kessel’s days in Toronto. For Joshua, it’s more than nostalgia. It’s about carving his own story, especially after battling testicular cancer last season.

Through 12 games, he’s had modest production, only two goals and two assists. However, he’s playing with purpose. His 39 hits and willingness to go to the hard areas show a player grinding his way back. He admitted it hasn’t been the smoothest start personally, but it’s clear things are on the upswing. You can’t help but root for him—his grit, both on and off the ice, gives #81 a new kind of meaning.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

The Maple Leafs improved to 7–5–1 with the win, but it’s not the record that matters. It’s the response. This team has been called soft, unfocused, and fragile for too long. On this night, there were none of those things. They battled through a miserable start and showed something rarely seen in recent years — resilience.

So yes, it’s just one game in November. But maybe, just maybe, it’s the one that sticks. If Berube can keep this group playing with that kind of urgency, fans might look back on this comeback as the night the season turned. After all, sometimes a single spark is all it takes to light the fire.