Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game at Montreal Canadiens | November 22, 2025

Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game at Montreal Canadiens | November 22, 2025

game tonight as far as taking um just obviously second period was uh real tough. I mean just didn’t respond well after we got down two. You know, we’ve been playing pretty well to that point. Obviously, they capitalized on a a couple chances and uh you know, we just weren’t able to kind of get things going in the second period really until really late and u you know, put us in a big hole. So, you know, fought hard to the end and, you know, kept it a game, but uh just too big of a hole to dig out of. How much of the injuries made it tough to kind of get that momentum going in a positive direction this week? There’s no no excuses. I think uh you know, I think we uh believe we have a very deep team. Obviously, uh missing some really good key players, but uh I think that’s where you want to rely on your game and and the identity that you build. And you know, we’re still uh still having that come together consistently, so we got to continue to stay with it and and uh work through it. And as we get guys back, obviously it’ll be good for our group. But um whatever the case is, you know, we we have the capability of uh being more consistent and doing what we need to do to earn results. When do you think things went the way they did last second? Was it something they were doing? Well, I I I started Well, I think they started feeling pretty good. They obviously generated some speed and you know uh you know they generate you know were able to generate some power plays and get the puck moving and obviously start feeling pretty good and you know we just weren’t able to get off our heels there for a good portion of it and then you know we give up the the early one which really hurts that continues to feed into life into their game and and for us to continue have to you know dig it out a bigger and bigger hole. So, um, we have to do a better job of maintaining, you know, momentum other team can build and then how we we get our game going. Um, you know, the other direction and staying with it and and, uh, battling through times like that. I mean, it’s going to happen. That’s the nature of the league and playing good teams, being on the road. Um, players make plays, but, uh, you know, we didn’t handle the momentum as well as we could have. What’s the level of frustrating that was? Yeah, I mean as a group that’s you know that’s the ultimate uh ultimate one on us when you know you leave your goalie out to dry and he’s keep giving you everything he’s got keeping you in the game and we’re just not executing well enough to you know turn the game around and obviously uh um get us back in it to give him a break and obviously uh provide some run support. What’s the level of frustration in the room right now? Seems like you’ll get a couple games with some momentum and then there’d be like a baby step backwards. Yeah, I mean, we’re not happy with uh you know, not being able to kind of really get things rolling and um you know, I I don’t want to use the word frustrating, but obviously we’re we’re continuing to work through things here and you know, we’re obviously uh continuing to find our way and just got to stay with it. I mean, you know, it’s not an excuse to say it’s a long season, but uh it it’s it’s can be heavy when you want to when you want to analyze uh everything up until this point. I think, you know, we got to continue to stay with the day-to-day, build on the things that uh we’ve done well, and obviously uh today wasn’t good enough. So, we know we got to regroup here, have a few days, and and get right back at it. What happened in that second period that allowed them to kind of take control of this one? No, I I thought we came out um and not sticking to the game plan a little bit right away in the second and and turned they got couple really good chances right away in the second and we uh and then penalties uh kind of got us out out of the rhythm a little bit and um I mean they’re good on the power play. So, um, but I thought we did a good job on the on the PK for the most part, but, uh, it’s just hard to get something going when when you’re in the box. Why do you think it’s been so challenging for the group to string together like three four games of, you know, strong strong play? Uh, I wish I knew. Uh, obviously that’s something that we’re working towards. Uh, working to to get the full 60 minute game. Uh, with that being said, I I do feel like we’ve been taking some steps in the in the right direction. So, uh, it’s been better lately. Uh, but with that being said, not good enough, obviously. So, um, we, uh, we have to keep keep working hard, uh, keep do the right things, and I thought we came out really good in the first, and that’s kind of how we had to play. Um, but like you guys said, I think sustain that uh and know how we get to that point. We just got to keep keep going, keep going. But we can’t really uh do that right now. So, it’s it’s we just got to keep working on it. Six regulars out of the lineup and then Jake Jake leaves this game. How how difficult does it build momentum when you’re dealing with all these injuries? Yeah, but at the same time, I like I said, I think we’ve been playing some good hockey lately. Uh been been getting some points out of games. Uh but still shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit. Uh but a couple bad bad plays and um so we we need to work on that. What did you make of Joseph’s night before he got the honk? It seemed like he was really giving you guys a chance. Yeah, I uh obviously feel bad for for him getting pulled there. Uh I thought he played an unbelievable game. So uh it’s not fun to see uh him getting pulled. Obviously playing a good really good game. So um no, I thought it was unbelievable. Could have been um a lot worse. Would you make a Dakota willing to to drop the gloves there with a pretty big customer? Yeah. No, it’s it’s good to see. Um obviously um that’s one thing that I like. We sticking up to each other and uh uh we need more of that. How frustrated are you with the slash you took to the back of the leg there? It’s part of it. I give and take a little bit. So, um yeah, it’s it’s part of it there in that second period that allowed Montreal to kind of take over. Yeah. Um I don’t know. Obviously, we we had a pretty good start that we liked in the first. Um in their building, I think they they fed off some energy. They got some momentum. Um and obviously some penalties. did a good job, you know, for the most part killing those and um but they just they rode the wave of momentum better. How tough was it to lose Jake, too? Because you really got some of the guys out the line was a a pretty solid guy back there. Yeah, it does. Um you know, he’s a guy that obviously eats a lot of minutes, plays the hard of the game, and and you know, on the penalty kill too. He’s a guy that uh you know, eats a lot of minutes for us and a guy that we you know, look to a lot um through the course of the game uh following his leadership. So, he’s a warrior. Um, you know, even see him finish in that shift. Um, it’s a huge credit to him. Obviously, we we missed him big time the rest of the way. Did you take a stick or a puck that we saw on the throat as well? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Kind of came up. Uh, yeah, it did. You know, at first wasn’t really sure. Um, you know, obviously it stings you and, you know, kind of get through it and, um, got in here and checked it out and kind of everything started to settle settle down a little bit, but um, yeah. What’s your sense of the the group’s mood? You know, you guys get a couple good games going and then it seems like you take a step back. What’s your sense of the spirit of the group right now? Yeah, you know what, like before before the game, you know, the spirit’s good. Um, you know, our energy in practice, the spirit’s been good. Again, Hugh, you know, we come out and, you know, we really had, you know, good first for the most part, a couple breakdowns that that led to goals. Um, but even through that, you know, obviously they’re pushing the second, you still feel like, you know, you’re going to work your way out of that. Um, Wooler was was fantastic, kept giving us a chance to come back and then we get one and, you know, even after the second, obviously we’re, you know, we’re ready to address the the issues of, you know, what happened there, but uh, the mood was still that if we get one that, uh, you know, we can make a push uh, in the third. So, um, you know, it’s it’s a veteran team. Um, you know, guys know how to respond. Um, you know, unfortunately, it just it’s hard when you’re chasing it that much. Tough fight with Jack. I how would you describe kind of the emotions of that moment for you? What you’re feeling? What you’re thinking? Yeah, I mean obviously you know you want to have some push back. Um you know you’re down you’re down at D obviously so that makes it hard maybe earlier in the game for something like that to happen. Um but he’s you know obviously he’s in his first game and you know we know those guys those brothers are what they want to do. He comes to the net just trying to have some push back spark something um you know late in the game. Obviously we’re able to get one and you know you just see what happens from there. But um just trying to hold your ground and um you know you don’t give an inch wrong in the second period here tonight. Um I think we just you know gave up all the m momentum we built in the first there. I mean a lot of PKs and stuff so let them get back into the game. I mean they made uh two nice plays scored two nice goals so uh you know and that gave them the momentum there. So I think that was part of it. Why do you think it’s been so challenging this season to get a run of like three, four good, strong games? Um, I don’t know. I think uh part of it maybe is a little bit that today we came out I mean dominating them and then they make a nice play and score um and then I feel like we get pushed back on the heels a little bit uh versus just you know keeping on the gas. How challenging has it been to build momentum with all the injuries? You lose Jake tonight already down six regulars. How much of that is a factor right now? Yeah, I mean that’s a part of it, but uh like I’ve said before, I think this is uh built, you know, character. So, um obviously it’s tough right now, but um in the end, I think it’ll be good for our group. Tough to see Joseph exit the game given how well he was playing. Yeah, of course. I mean, that’s more of a wakeup call for the team. I mean, he was standing on his head. I mean, he played an unbelievable game. So, it’s more uh for the rest of us to to wake up. What do you think will turn this around? Yeah, I think you know some of the things that we’ve been doing lately um just sticking to that for 60 minutes. I mean first period um today I mean we were dominating them and then like I said before they make one nice play and we kind of get pushed back on our heels. I mean, just got to stay stay with it and stay on top of him and, you know, it’s a tough stretch and goes back and forth right now, but we just got to, you know, focus on keeping their foot on the gas. Would you make it to dropping the gloves there? Yeah, I mean, showing some character there at the end and I mean, a lot of guys were battling and, you know, showing a lot of uh a lot of uh emotion today. So, that’s uh that’s great. What happened in the second period that allowed Montreal to kind of tilt things? Well, right off the first draw, we got an easy breakout. We don’t we just don’t make the easy play. Turn it over. Now they’re in our end. They make a couple plays, passes, you get a couple good looks. And that was basically what the period was. And then we took penalties because you’re in your end too much. So, we’re killing. We kill three in a row. Um, basically that’s was the second period. First, how close? Well, it was a tough one. like he kind of spun him. Ster kind of spun him and then the shot was off like you know he wall you know probably wouldn’t have wouldn’t have got there. It was close. It was it was a it was a tough one. What did you make? Well, he was excellent. I mean I pulled him there was we were just giving freebies to him. I just said I had enough. Is that to wake up your team or save both? Both. You know, both. We’re down a goalie already, so both. I know there’s no magic bullet, but what do you think it will take to turn the team around? Well, I mean, it’s, you know, obviously getting some people back in the lineup, but, you know, we that definitely is going to help, but until we decide to, you know, dig in and play the right way for 60 minutes on a consistent basis, it’s going to be hard to pull yourself out of anything. You feel good with that lost? Well, yeah. I I would go back probably the last three games. I thought we made good strides. I didn’t mind our first period. I get there’s a couple, you know, a couple breakdowns, right? Um, and we’re down two nothing, but I don’t I just don’t understand um why we can’t go out in the second period and dictate how we’re going to play the period. That’s the difference for me. They dictated the game in the second period. They put their foot on the gas and took it to us. John about the momentum in the second period. I hope there’s a confidence issue if when the momentum was shifting that it kind of gets away. Well, what I’ve seen a few times this year is when you know we get down a couple goals at times. You know, this happened in the second period where, you know, we go out there and we just we don’t play we don’t play with any urgency or any confidence in the second period because we get down a couple goals and it’s like I don’t that’s an excuse all day long for me. This is a veteran hockey team. It it’s on it’s it’s inexcusable and it’s on me too that it’s you know it’s on all of us and um you know with a veteran team like that that shouldn’t happen. Jake McCabe upper body I you know I can’t I don’t know the timeline of it right now but bad enough he couldn’t come back and play. You mentioned it already with the injuries piling up. How difficult has that made it to build momentum for you this stretch? Well, it makes it difficult for sure, but again, like it is what it is. We This is what we have and we got to we got to be better. We got to be better. That’s the bottom line. I mean, we showed we can do it. These guys have been out for a while now. We played some pretty good hockey at times. There was no reason that, you know, that that didn’t happen tonight. And like I said, we came out with that mindset in the first period and did a pretty good job. Um, but can’t lose all the momentum because they scored a couple goals. Like, it’s just that’s like I said, we’re a veteran team and it’s inexcusable. Yeah. Thanks,

Coach and players speak with the media following the Leaf’s 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

00:00 – John Tavares
03:30 – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
06:12 – Dakota Mermis
08:54 – William Nylander
10:57 – Craig Berube

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