The Maple Leafs’ lineup ahead of Game 6 against the Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered Game 6 down 3–2 in the series against the Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs are coming off of a 6–1 beatdown, with a fan throwing their Maple Leafs’ jersey on the ice after the poor performance. The Maple Leafs have lost three games in a row to the Panthers, and are now on the brink of elimination.

Craig Berube swapped in Nicholas Robertson and David Kampf for Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok ahead of Game 5. However, it’s been the same issues that has plagued this team going on nine years. When the going gets tough in the playoffs, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner disappear. Going back to 2019 in Games 5, 6, or 7, Matthews has seven goals in 17 games, while Marner has zero goals in 19 games.

The Maple Leafs held a practice ahead of tonight’s game in Florida. Here is the expected Maple Leafs’ Game 6 lineup:

Forward lines

Matthew Knies–Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg–John Tavares–William Nylander
Bobby McMann–Max Domi–Max Pacioretty
Steven Lorentz–Scott Laughton–Calle Jarnkrok

Defence pairs

Morgan Rielly–Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe–Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit–Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Goaltenders

Joseph Woll
Matt Murray

Craig Berube dressed Pontus Holmberg and promoted him to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Max Pacioretty has been demoted to the third line with Max Domi and Bobby McMann. Calle Jarnkrok draws back into the lineup with David Kampf being scratched.

Perhaps surprisingly, Berube scratched Nicholas Robertson. Robertson scored the only Maple Leafs’ goal in the 6–1 loss on Wednesday night. But it seems that Berube wants more size throughout the line up, and Holmberg has looked decent these playoffs.

Berube is keeping the same five-forward power play together that has went 1–10 in the last three games. By not changing the first line or the first power play unit, Berube is putting his faith in the Maple Leafs’ top players to produce in key moments tonight.

The Maple Leafs need to win two in a row to prove they are not the perennial losers their playoff history suggests. However, this is a tall order, especially with how Games 4 and 5 have gone. The Panthers have completely shutdown the Maple Leafs’ offence, a demon that the Maple Leafs will have to slay if they want to win.