Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs. New York Rangers | October 16, 2025

Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs. New York Rangers | October 16, 2025

Anthony, what can the team take away from from this one tonight? Um, just it was a a good team effort. I thought, uh, you know, it was kind of a playofflike atmosphere is kind of a, you know, Ryan to dump it in. Um, you know, any shot could could go in and it was a a good goalie duel. So, um, you know, I like the way that we stay stuck with our game and stay patient and, um, you know, didn’t try to try to open it up too much. I thought that, you know, we kind of started getting pucks in and kind of wearing them out. I think that’s what we’re going to have to do come uh, you know, the rest of the season here. take us through what was going through your mind when you had to make that full-on stop on JT Miller without your helmet there. Uh yeah, I kind of just uh saw the the rebound go to the side and as I was going the the helmet kind of flew off. So, um you know, just trying to be a competitor and slide across. Um obviously it’s not uh an ideal situation, but uh you know, at that stage of the game, you’re just trying to do anything to keep the puck on the net. What did he say to you? Did the ref say anything to you? I think the rule is there’s uh an imminent scoring chance that you know they can uh you know not blow it but uh you know this is the second time it’s happened uh happened to Hill the other night as well. So um hopefully we can you know find a compromise. It’s not like uh goals are trying to knock our helmets off. I mean you know without the buckle you can’t really uh see the puck. You can’t really track or do anything cuz as soon as you move your head it falls off. So, um, you know, hopefully Khali can kind of look at it, talk to, uh, you know, some goalies or people who have, uh, knowledge of of the position and we can kind of come to some sort of compromise where, you know, our safety isn’t, uh, isn’t put at risk there. You don’t battle guys taller with you than you a lot. What’s it like going up against Ree? Uh, I mean, he’s, uh, he’s a big boy, so uh, you know, you’re just trying to look around him. Usually I’m able to uh kind of look over guys, but with him uh you know, I just kind of have to look around and try to look through his uh through his legs, through his arms, around his hips. So, uh you know, he’s a he’s a competitor out there and um he’s you know, one big hell of a presence in front. So, you know, you’re going to have to compete. You’re going to have to battle to see the puck. Big saves on character. How much inspiration do you draw when you look down the other end and see one of the world’s best? Um yeah, I mean obviously it’s uh you know he’s uh you know the best if or one of the best if not the best. So for me it’s just kind of uh worrying about stopping the puck and uh you know you kind of see him making save after save and uh you know as a goalie you want to you want to match that and uh you know just try to give the team uh you know some time to to put one by him and you know I think tonight we did a great job of uh you know kind of eliminating their chances, not giving them too much. So um you know I came up big when I had to but you know kudos to the guys in front of me. They allowed me to see a lot of shots and um you know we just uh stayed patient, stayed with our game and I got the two points. Your second year with Willie. Um what does it say about him that just on any shift he can be a game changer? Yeah, I mean he’s uh he’s an integral part of our team and um you know you see him getting those big minutes there uh last two minutes. So, um he’s someone who’s kind of grown into that role and uh somebody that we’re going to need uh you know as the year progresses to uh you know continue to battle, continue to work and um you know you see him go for the change and kind of uh you know his hockey instincts take over. He skates back, back checks and uh you know comes back and um Mo makes a nice pass to him. he comes down and, you know, feeds Tone for for the tapping. So, um, you know, just the way he’s able to, uh, move up and down the ice, play defense, play offense, I think that’s going to be huge for us going down the, uh, down the stretch here. So, what have you seen, uh, coming down there going on with William over time? Yeah, I just, I mean, had some time and space and, um, seen it a lot of times before just playing that little give and go and obviously he’s a great passer and he put it right on my tape. So, it was really nice play and Mo made a great play and in Arizona there to break up that play and get us on that two-1 and there was a lot of time and space. What do you see from Anthony tonight making all the saves including one without his mask on? Yeah, he was incredible tonight. I mean, just another example of uh just what a gamer he is. I mean, he just goes in there, he wants to compete and um you know, he’s a big communicator back there. He lets you know what’s going on and he’ll let you know when he doesn’t like what he’s seeing. So, I think you can really appreciate that. Um, you know, definitely uh made some huge saves for us tonight in all periods and all situations. So, it was uh pretty incredible to see. Obviously, we’d like to take a little bit of less of a load off of him, but um you know, when those situations come, they’re a good team, they got skilled players, they’re going to get their opportunities, and he came up huge. What do you think of that rule where, you know, they don’t go it dead if there’s a minute scoring chance and the goalie’s mask is off? I didn’t know about that until they came over and explained it to us. I mean, I don’t know. It’s tough cuz his helmet’s off and JT Miller’s coming down the slot with a one-time. I don’t know. Uh, you know, thankfully it didn’t hit him there like but yeah, I was completely unaware of the role. I thought the second his helmet’s off, I mean, it’s got to be dead with no helmet on. So, I don’t know. What was the third period like? Uh, did you feel the energy kind of lift up with the Jays doing what they were doing there in Seattle? Yeah, I don’t think they put anything on the scoreboard, but you could tell that something good was happening in the game cuz they uh uh randomly the crowd just started cheering, so it was great. Um, you know, the game was it was a grind tonight. It was, you know, back and forth. Um, a little bit of a stalemate there at times, but um, you know, you’re going to have those nights and those games where it’s just uh, you got to grind it out and try to fight for that extra point. And, you know, we did that tonight, so uh, we’ll take it. There’s a lot of focus on the net front presence that Matt Ny has offensively, but today he had a pretty big clear when the Rangers had a good opportunity. So, what stands out about him as an all-around player? I think he’s taken steps in that regard as far as just um you know, defensive responsibilities. Um you know, he’s a big body. He uses his size and his reach very well and he’s smart. So, um, you know, the more experience he’s had now in the situations that, you know, he’s put in, end of the games, up a goal, down a goal, PK, different stuff like that. I mean, you just kind of get a feel for um, you know, how to use yourself in those situations and, you know, he’s done a really good job in improving in all those areas. Describe uh, what you saw from Anthony Stwires here tonight. Yeah, obviously making huge saves for us all night long. I mean, like he’s been doing since he got here. Played incredible tonight. What do you think of his save with his mask on? Yeah, I thought that would have should have been blown down earlier. I don’t know if Is it supposed to be? I don’t know. No, if it’s an imminent scoring chance, they let it play out. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. Well, that was crazy. What do you think of that rule? You think they should blow it dead or do you think as a shooter if you have a chance? I mean, I think uh like it’s a goalie loses. I mean, that’s so dangerous. It should be blown off right away. I mean, I I guess you could argue that sometimes it will like him probably shake his helmet off or whatever, but I mean, I think that’s pretty dangerous. Seemed a bit like a goalies duel on both sides today. What do you like about how you guys were able to approach this game when played out the way that it did? Yeah, I think uh we just grinded through the game. I mean, got that power play goal, which was nice. And you know, sometimes they were pressuring us and we were able to, you know, play uh play good defense, I think. And obviously totally stood on his head. What are you thinking as he come down on that two-on-one in overtime? Are are you thinking it’s going to be a pass as he come down? What are you What are you seeing? I mean, just just happens. Don’t really think I’m thinking too much when I’m coming down there. Well, they just stay on the ice. You’re leaving to get off. Sorry. You’re waving to get off the ice and then you stay. Yeah, I thought I I thought it was a good time to change. I mean, they were they were back, but I I felt like nobody was ready to go on the ice immediately then. So, I thought, “Okay, I got to stay on.” There’s a lot of focus. There’s a lot of focus about how good Matt Ny is offensively in front of the net, but tonight he played really well defensively in front of the net. So, what stands out about his all-around game? Yeah, I mean, he’s been been that kind of player since he got here. And I mean like he is in front of uh there in front of ours. He’s a big boy and you know hard to move and strong and can move guys the other way and you know get in front of Fox. What was what third period like when the fans started reacting to what was going on in Seattle with the Blue Jays game. Did you sense a pickup in energy in the building? Uh yeah, a little bit. I mean I think I heard that they were down one nothing. That’s all I heard. I didn’t really hear that they I guess they’re up 3-1 now. 51. 51. Oh huge. It’s unreal. What do you uh what are you liking about your own start then? Yeah, I mean just trying to build it uh game by game. Not I mean not looking, you know, back just take it day by day. What’s going through your mind and to see uh Skull Lars make a save without his mask on tonight? Yeah, I was a little scared to be honest. I don’t know how it came to that you know. I thought it was supposed to be blown but I don’t know that was a that was a shocker for sure for everyone I What’s a performance like his give kind of an energy boost does it give your group when you see him earlier Carrick Culie the mask when you see him dialed in like that what’s it do for you? Yeah it gives everyone in this room confidence um he played incredible night he carried us through the whole game um you know I think he he kept the game tight and um yeah a lot of props to him he had a great night for us. How much does he help you guys with his voice and speaking up? He’s good. He’s good he’s good in the room. He’s good on the ice. I think he’s you know he overcommunicates and I think that’s a good thing. Is there a bunch of N family or friends in town? I saw about 12 people with N jerseys outside today. Yeah, there was uh my my uh parents friends from Slovakia are coming out. So, and they’re friends. So, I think there’s a whole bunch of them. So, there’s a lot of them. Any special plans for your birthday? Nothing crazy. Um there’s a lot of games going on. So, um yeah, I don’t know. That’s probably behind. What do you think of the play Willian made to Austin there in overtime? No, it’s typical Willie. That’s pretty good. It’s a pretty good play. It looked like you were going to get on the ice there and and Willie was going to come off and did change it. And yeah, I’m I’m glad I stayed on cuz he made uh a play that not a lot of players can make. So, um yeah, it was fun to watch fun to watch on the bench. What was the third period like with the the fans reacting a bit to what was going on in Seattle with the Jade? Do you notice the energy pick up at all in the building? Yeah. Yeah, it was cool. I mean, I noticed the the little booze when they were losing and then I noticed the loud cheers when they got the lead there. So that’s that’s pretty cool. And um yeah, we’re going to go watch the rest of it here. What do you like about the defensive side of your game? You had a pretty big clear on a high danger opportunity for the Rangers there. Yeah. Um just want to stay uh stay close to Soie, you know, obviously make his life a little bit easier. I think we we did a good job of that um in parts of the first and parts of the third, but I think in the second I think we let hang out to dry a little bit. But um yeah, I think with those those clears obviously do a lot and and just get the get the rest and um yeah, get some fresh bodies out there too maybe. You guys had a little bit of trouble clearing those clearing the zone and breaking out tonight. Was that them or is this something you guys were doing or Yeah, I think we’re um kind of over skating a little bit. Um, I think they did a great job honestly heming us in a little bit and and kind of controlling the momentum in in parts of the game, but um, yeah, I think a win’s a win and we found a way to to to get a victory here and that’s that’s all that matters. What do you see on your goal? Are you expecting William to kind of throw it into that area at that moment? Yeah, I mean that we’ve we’ve worked on that play. Just hang on the back post and uh, make myself big and and hopefully it bounces in and fortunately did. What’ you like about your uh, your team’s performance tonight? Yeah. Yeah, I mean um it’s good to see the power play get a goal. You know, first there’s four penalties in the first period, so that really summed up that period for me. And then second period, you know, I thought that uh we got caught ex extending our shifts and just kind of lost our uh you know, ma men and they trans they they uh transitioned from defense to offense quickly and caught us on some oddman rushes. You know, we we I thought we extended our shifts in the second period, third period. They they had the momentum. We grinded it out, though. Um goalie was good. You know, we got to we got to be better than that. But it was a win. What’s your understanding of um the sequence at the end of the game where still able to make the save without his mask on? Um well, I think obviously it’s a judgment call by the referees and you know, I think they felt that u they had an opportunity to make a play quickly and maybe score. So, they didn’t blow it down till after that little sequence, but uh I’m not totally sure on all that because I think What’s that? You think that ought to be the rule cuz it’s a tough call. I mean, I think, you know, your goalie loses his mask, you know, he’s in a very vulnerable position and a position to get really hurt and um I don’t think anybody wants to see that ever. So, in my opinion, blow it down, but that’s me. your uh your decision tonight to limit Eastston in the third period. Was that about his game or just the the way the game was going? The game in general, I think more than anything. And um I thought our team maybe lacked a little energy tonight. So I was just trying to find some some lines and some energy together. That’s all. Yeah. A lot of hockey here. Obviously, we play Saturday again. So we got to we got to sum up some energy here for that game. How close are you to to challenging their their goal? It seems like we wanted to look at it closely. I I wasn’t sure if Carlo touched it after the high stick and I called the timeout just cuz I wanted to be sure about it. I thought it was a crucial time of the game and so that’s why I called the timeout but obviously it um he did touch it so it was it was a good goal.

Head Coach and players speak with the media following the Leafs 2-1 overtime victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday.

00:00 – Anthony Stolarz
03:18 – Auston Matthews
05:58 – William Nylander
08:26 – Matthew Knies
11:10 – Craig Berube

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