Maple Leafs’ Postseason Offensive Struggles Are Nothing New

Bobrovsky’s play has improved substantially, but the scoring depth of the Panthers has led the way in the series. The club has 15 different goal scorers, and nine players have earned at least four points through five games versus the Maple Leafs. 

Getting Power Play Back on Track

After scoring six times on 17 opportunities in six outings versus the Ottawa Senators in the opening round, Toronto has two power-play goals on 18 chances in Round 2 against the Panthers. 

The Maple Leafs have been held off the scoresheet on six power plays over the last two games. Florida has made adjustments by pressuring Toronto’s five-forward group all over the ice. The Maple Leafs need faster, crisper puck movement to get in sync. The team’s success in Round 1 came from quick plays and funnelling the puck to the net. Barring more decisiveness, some personnel changes could occur in Game 6. Still, putting a blueliner on the top unit may not be enough to get the job done. 

Stars Need to Step Up 

That brings us to the crux of the problem. The best players on the team need to be better, and it is more noticeable than it should be when they aren’t producing because management has never properly addressed the roster’s depth-scoring issues. When John Tavares isn’t scoring around the net, Marner isn’t making plays, Matthews isn’t ripping shots under the bar, and Nylander isn’t burying his rush chances, the odds of winning decrease substantially because other players frequently don’t pick up the slack. They unquestionably need to score, and the criticism of their struggles as a series reaches the elimination stage is warranted. However, these problems aren’t new and have continued to go unchecked for a while.

There should’ve been changes when the Maple Leafs scored 10 goals in five games against the Panthers in 2023 or when 12 goals were tallied in seven contests versus the Boston Bruins in 2024. If you want to go back even further, the Leafs didn’t generate much offensively in late-series matches against the Washington Capitals in 2017, the Bruins in 2019, the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020, and the Montreal Canadiens in 2021. The supporting cast should change because it hasn’t gotten the job done, but the core group will also need alterations if they remain ineffective in 2025 and the Maple Leafs get bounced from the playoffs early again. 

What Adjustments Should Be Made for Game 6?

The Maple Leafs put Robertson and David Kampf in the lineup for Game 5, removing Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg. Robertson proved he can contribute offensively, ending Bobrovsky’s shutout spree, but Toronto needs more to avoid being eliminated by the Panthers. Perhaps a top-six shakeup is in order, with Nylander joining Matthews and Matthew Knies on the first line and Marner skating alongside Tavares. Toronto could benefit from making Florida switch-up matchups while freeing up Marner and granting Matthews a boost with Nylander’s explosiveness.

It’s baffling that the Maple Leafs possess this much offensive firepower but tend to play a more passive defensive style while supplementing the group with players that fit that mould. The team needs to embrace an attack-oriented mindset now and in the future.

Analytics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.