TORONTO – Craig Berube wished to complete Thursday evening wholesome.
That mission completed, the Maple Leafs and their head coach can now solely concentrate on what the group has been working towards all season — the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A mouth-watering first-round matchup awaits.
Toronto got here again from a 3-1 deficit in Thursday’s third interval earlier than beating the Detroit Pink Wings 4-3 to place a bow on a meaningless regular-season finale for each groups.
“Laborious for the gamers,” Berube mentioned. “It’s simply a kind of (video games) you hope you come out of it and also you’re all good.”
That’s what occurred as Toronto averted harm on an evening that regarded quite a bit like a pre-season contest towards an opponent that may watch the NHL’s annual spring event from the sofa.
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“A little bit little bit of a bizarre sport,” mentioned Leafs ahead Scott Laughton, who scored the winner. “It’s totally different on the market. You most likely gained’t see me on the market second shift of additional time, in order that form of explains it.”
Toronto, which topped the Atlantic Division with 108 factors, opens the post-season Sunday evening towards the Ottawa Senators in Recreation 1 of a best-of-seven collection that represents the primary playoff Battle of Ontario in additional than 20 years.
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“Now it’s time for us to get right down to enterprise,” Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev mentioned after tying Thursday’s affair with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. “We all know how good of a crew they’re, we all know how onerous they play, we all know how well-coached they’re.
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“They’re a really structured crew that does all the appropriate issues, does the little issues to win video games, and that’s why they’ve had a profitable yr.”
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The Leafs beat the Senators 4 occasions within the playoffs between 2000 and 2004, together with two Recreation 7 victories on residence ice. The rivalry has been largely dormant since with the groups buying and selling rebuilds, however Ottawa has lastly emerged from the doldrums to set the stage for an additional provincial conflict.
“Pleased with the way in which we battled again and located our sport there within the third interval,” mentioned Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who opened the scoring along with his thirty third purpose of 2024-25. “You need to be ending off the common season on a very good word. A variety of good issues heading into the post-season.
“Simply received to get ready and prepared for what’s subsequent.”
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Toronto has gained 5 straight video games heading into the playoffs, and had been victorious in 13 of the crew’s closing 16 video games to assert the division crown.
“We actually performed nicely as a crew this final little stretch,” Berube mentioned. “Doing the appropriate issues with out the puck. Everyone dialed in and purchased into what we need to do.”
The Leafs, whose Cup drought stretches again to 1967, will probably be trying to win a collection for simply the second time within the NHL’s salary-cap period once they hit the playoff ice.
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“Enjoyable stuff begins now,” Tanev mentioned.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
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Toronto depth defenceman Philippe Myers scored an attractive purpose within the third to tug his crew’s deficit to at least one when he stepped round two Pink Wings and slid his second of the marketing campaign previous Cam Talbot.
“I’ll take it,” he mentioned. “I don’t even know what occurred there.”
“He saved saying every year he pulls one thing like that out,” Matthews added with a smile. “Waited till Recreation 82, nevertheless it was very nice.”
Berube mused it could be the crew’s offensive play of the yr.
“I wasn’t certain who it was for some time,” he mentioned. “Hell of a purpose.”
GETTING COMFORTABLE
Laughton was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers forward of the NHL commerce deadline, however took some time to get adjusted to his new environment.
The Toronto native’s purpose was his second in 20 video games with the Leafs. Berube, nonetheless, had already seen loads of progress over the previous few weeks.
“Actually come round for us,” he mentioned. “I used to be glad for him to get that purpose in OT. You be ok with your self, nevertheless it’s not the purpose a lot. It’s simply how he’s enjoying.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 17, 2025.
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