The Maple Leafs held a practice at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. on Wednesday before travelling to Raleigh.

The Leafs failed to convert on three power-play chances on Tuesday night and the five-forward top unit allowed the Florida Panthers to score a shorthanded goal.

Will Toronto go back to the alignment with centre Auston Matthews at the point for Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes?

“I’m still undecided,” coach Craig Berube said. “I’m still thinking about it. We didn’t work on it today. I didn’t think it was a good day to work on it, but we definitely got to figure it out. The players got to figure it out.”

The Leafs did not do any special teams work during Wednesday’s short practice, which lasted only about 15 minutes.

“After a game, like, I don’t think their heads were going to be into it,” Berube explained. “I didn’t want to tax the penalty kill either. We played last night. I didn’t feel it was a day to work on it.”

The team will hold only an optional skate on Thursday morning in Raleigh so any improvements will need to come via video sessions and internal conversations.

The Leafs are converting on just 15.2 per cent of their chances this season, which ranks 27th overall entering Wednesday’s slate of games. They have tried a number of different looks with defencemen Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson both getting a chance at the quarterback spot.

“They’re not the issue,” Berube stressed. “Everybody on the ice has to be accountable to it. It’s not just one guy. We’re just trying to find something that works.”

When Matthews returned from injury last week in Columbus, the Leafs decided to give the five-forward look a chance. Matthews moved to the top of the zone with rookie Easton Cowan taking his spot on the flank. William Nylander remained on the other flank with John Tavares in the bumper and Matthew Knies in front of the net.

“Last year we went to five forwards and it worked,” Berube pointed out. “It pretty much worked most of the season.”

But that was with Mitch Marner up top. Matthews, who has just one goal and one assist on the power play this season, has never played the quarterback role before. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has spent most of his life on the flank.

After a slow start last season with new assistant coach Marc Savard running things, the power play took off with five forwards on the top unit. Toronto finished tied for eighth overall with a 24.8 per cent conversion rate.

But the Leafs are struggling to snap out of a slow start this season.

“It’s been a little bit frustrating,” admitted Nylander, who leads the team with five power-play points. “But, as of recently, I think the power play has gotten better and is moving the puck better. Getting pucks to the net is the most important thing.”

The lack of goals is a pressing issue, but another power-play problem is now popping up. Toronto’s top unit has allowed a high-danger chance against in all three games it’s had a chance, including a 3-on-1 rush in Columbus and a breakaway in Pittsburgh. On both those occasions, the team’s goalie made a big save.

“When the puck’s not on our stick, I think we’ve got to get back and just play defence a little bit better,” said Knies. “If you see them about to get the first touch I think it’s just getting back and being urgent in our D-zone.”

On Tuesday night, Knies over-committed on the back check, which allowed Sam Reinhart to get open in the slot. Anton Lundell won a puck battle with Nylander, Cowan and Matthews to feed the Panthers winger, who made no mistake.

“We had guys back there and then they out battled us in that corner and we just kind of lost coverage,” said Matthews.

“We were four guys back,” said Nylander. “They were two, and they were able to score. I don’t really think that that has anything to do with it, if there was a D out there or not. It was just a bad job on our part.”

So, Berube has plenty to think about as he prepares for Thursday’s final game of the road trip in Raleigh.

“It doesn’t need to be over complicated,” Matthews stressed. “We did a little bit, maybe, too much passing around the outside instead of just attacking and going from there. It doesn’t have to be, you know, three, four or five passes before you can get a look. It can be a shot, recovery, one pass, two passes, and then just continue to attack. I think we could just do a better job of that and go from there. I mean, obviously, the power play has been kind of hit or miss, and we need that to be good.”

The Leafs have scored just 10 power-play goals, which is tied for fewest in the NHL. They have allowed three shorthanded goals. Toronto’s plus-seven goal differential on the power play is tied with the Los Angeles Kings for worst in the league.

Berube undecided on future of Leafs five-forward power play alignment While the Maple Leafs came away with a win in Florida, Toronto failed to convert on three power-play chances and actually surrendered a shorthanded goal. The goal in question had five forwards on the ice for the Leafs, which now has head coach Craig Berube rethinking his strategy.

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Nylander logged just 16 minutes and 37 seconds in Tuesday’s game, which was a season-low mark.

“It wasn’t like he didn’t get out there,” Berube said. “He was out there with his line every shift. So, I don’t know, ice times, they don’t mark ’em properly up there half the time anyhow.”

Nylander’s previous season low was 17:39 during a game in Buffalo on Oct. 24, which he left early due to injury. His average ice time this season is 20:04.

“I thought Willy worked last night,” Berube said. “A lot didn’t happen with that line offensively, but when you play Florida it’s going to be that way sometimes. And what I liked about their line [with Tavares and Cowan] is they didn’t force things. They just kept it, kept working and doing the job. So, you know, that’s going to happen at times.”

Nylander finished without a point for only the third time this season. He failed to register a shot on goal for only the fifth time.

“It was a game where we took the lead early and, you know, didn’t really want to take too many chances,” Nylander noted. “So, I mean, I thought we did a pretty good job not giving up too much dangerous stuff the other way.”

Nylander missed a practice last Thursday for what the team called a “maintenance day.” He also missed Friday’s game due to an illness. At Monday’s practice, he fell awkwardly and needed a breather at the bench before continuing.

“He’s fine physically,” Berube assured.

“I feel good,” Nylander said.

Nylander was the last player on the ice at practice. He spoke with head athletic therapist Paul Ayotte at the bench at the end of the session.

Leafs Ice Chips: What’s behind Nylander’s season low ice time? Toronto’s William Nylander logged a season-low 16:37 of ice time in Tuesday’s win over the Panthers, and finished without a shot or a point. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on the forward’s status, as well as who might still be on the outside looking in come Thursday in Carolina.

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The Leafs beat the Panthers 4-1 on Tuesday in their first meeting since last year’s playoffs.

“That’s a big one,” said winger Bobby McMann, who posted two assists. “Obviously there’s a bit of history here. It’s just something that we can build off of and take that energy and ride that momentum.”

Toronto outshot Florida 31-26. It was only the third time Toronto has outshot a team by five or more this season, and the first time it’s happened since Oct. 29.

“We should have this mindset every f–king night, how hard we f–king played tonight,” Berube told the players in the dressing room after the game. “The puck battles, the aggressiveness, the numbers on the puck, the physicality we played with, the directness, that’s f-king good hockey. We’re a good f–king team. Play that way and we can beat anybody. Trust me. Great f–king job.”

Berube felt the Leafs played one of their fastest-paced games of the season.

There were a lot of smiles during Wednesday’s practice as the team did one structure drill and some shooting drills.

“Energy’s been really good,” Berube said. “I think the guys being together on the road has really been good for us, you know, just them being together at dinners, things like that, being around each other. The bench has been good and the room. Energy’s been good. Even this morning in a practice after a game, you know, I like the energy out there today.”

The Leafs have won three out of four games to start this season-long road trip and have climbed out of the basement of the Eastern Conference. Are they turning a corner?

“I don’t know if we’ve turned a corner, but we’re on the right track,” said centre Scott Laughton. “It’s hard to gain traction when you’re kind of winning one, losing one. You string a couple together, you get some momentum in this league, and it does you a lot [of] good.”

This is the first time the Leafs have won consecutive games since a three-game win streak to start November.

the Leafs are moving the puck a lot quicker, especially off opposition errors

Matthews just ran out of a room on the side but this was a great look pic.twitter.com/haSnNl6OWk

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 3, 2025

Are the Leafs turning a corner? ‘We’re on the right track’ As the Maple Leafs get set to end a six-game road trip in Carolina, mood around the club is positive as they have won three of their last four games, including a victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions from Florida. Despite the recent success, Toronto knows that they still have a lot of work to do.

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Laughton scored his first goal of the season on Tuesday night.

“It hasn’t come easy this year for me,” he acknowledged. “Hopefully this can give me a little spring in my step and create a little bit more offence.”

The 31-year-old from Oakville, Ont. has been limited to eight games due to two separate injury absences.

Laughton actually credited yours truly, who had asked about the offensive drought during a pre-game media session, for sparking his breakthrough.

“A little bit of relief,” Laughton told TSN after the game. “You got me going here, Mark, so thank you. I appreciate it.”

We can’t take all the credit. Laughton’s upbeat attitude has also helped him come through this trying time.

“He’s probably one of the loudest players I’ve been around, honestly, when it comes to being in the locker room and around the guys,” said Knies. “We needed that energy, especially when he came back in our lineup [on Nov. 20]. I think it was important to have him in there and just constantly talking and bringing the fun.”

Laughton reminds Berube of another glue guy, Pat Maroon, who he won a Stanley Cup with in St. Louis in 2019.

“Brings spirit to your team,” the coach said.

Laughton, who served as the Philadelphia Flyers dressing room DJ prior to being traded to Toronto in March, is now contributing to the Leafs playlist.

“It’s pretty hardcore,” Knies said of Laughton’s musical taste. “It’s just like a lot of rap and you see him [with his] head bobbing a little bit. It’s kind of funny, but it’s good.”

The Leafs have been playing the 1982 song ‘Come on Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners after wins lately and, apparently, Laughton was involved with that choice.

“It must be Laughty, but I’m not sure,” said Knies.

Laughton was not giving away much.

“I think that one stays in the room,” he told TSN with a smile.

Laughton’s energy, ‘pretty hardcore’ music taste has Leafs room jumping Scott Laughton got his first goal of the season in Toronto’s win Tuesday night, much to the excitement of his Leafs teammates. Since his arrival late last season, Laughton has ingratiated himself with the group, and has had the guys laughing at his jokes, and dancing to his music.

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Troy Stecher called his shot on the first goal of his Leafs career. Sort of.

“I told Cowan and [Nick] Robertson I was going to get one, and I actually did,” the 5-foot-10 right-shot defenceman said with a smile after opening the scoring on Tuesday night. “The problem is I tell myself that every game. I tell somebody that.”

Why?

“I don’t know,” he said. “Just fake it til you make it type of thing. ‘Give me the puck, I’m going to score!’ and then most often I’m going off the glass and out.”

Stecher added an assist and finished plus-four with four blocked shots while playing more than 24 minutes on Tuesday.

Stecher, who is riding a three-game point streak, has hit the ground running since being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 15. The 31-year-old felt he had no choice but to grab firm hold of the opportunity with the Leafs.

“Seventh team of my career, you know, what do I have to lose?” he told TSN during a second intermission interview on Tuesday night. “Career, in a sense, in my mind, is kind of on the line, and you either show up and you play or you fail and you sink. Just trying to leave it all out there and, so far, it’s been going well, but no time for complacency.”

After starting in a third-pair role, Stecher is now logging big minutes beside Jake McCabe.

“He is playing with a ton of confidence right now,” said Berube. “He is very composed. He and McCabe look like they have instant chemistry right now, which is great. They are moving the puck extremely well. When you talk about pace, Stecher plays with pace out there. He closes on people, he skates, and he gets up the ice. He is doing a lot of good things.”

The Leafs are currently missing their two top right-shot defencemen with no timeline available for the return of Brandon Carlo and Chris Tanev.

Stecher called his shot on first Leafs goal … sort of Troy Stecher got his first goal for the Maple Leafs Tuesday night after the team claimed him off waivers November 15th. He reflects scoring the goal and the reaction he got from the team, and his new teammates rave about what they like about the 31-year old journeyman.

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Stecher picked up an assist when he flipped a puck into the neutral zone after Nicolas Roy won a defensive-zone draw in the first period. McMann recovered the loose puck and fed Dakota Joshua who scored to give Toronto a 2-0 lead.

“Caber and I [were getting set for] a D-zone draw and kind of just looked at each other and [with] three big boys that all can skate, it’s just get the puck into the neutral zone and let them hunt it down,” Stecher said. “They’ve been playing downhill, it seems like, which is a benefit for anybody. It just makes the game that much easier. They’ve been doing a really good job.”

Roy (one goal, three assists in his first 20 games) and Joshua (two goals, three assists in his first 23 games) both got off to slow starts in their first season with the Leafs. McMann has also endured some quiet stretches.

But the trio has taken off together in the last two games. The line has generated four 5-on-5 goals and Roy has also potted a power-play marker as part of Toronto’s second unit.

It looks like the Leafs finally have an identity line coming together.

“They’re just on it,” said Berube. “Joshua and McMann have been really good on the walls in our zone. Roy does a good job of being underneath and supporting. They get the puck, and when they go down into the offensive zone, whether it is on an attack or they have to forecheck, they are heavy. They’re doing a good job with their sticks. They’re on people, and then they hang onto pucks in the offensive zone. They’re getting to the net and doing a good job. They’ve been really effective. It’s very important. They take a lot of D-zone faceoffs. I match them up against [top] people at times on the road. That big, heavy line really sets the tone for our team.”

‘Big, heavy line really sets the tone’: Do Leafs finally have an identity line? With Toronto’s third line of Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua stepping up the last two games, the linemates spoke about their growing chemistry on the ice while head coach Craig Berube shared how important the trio is to the team’s recent success.

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No lineup changes are expected on Thursday night, which means winger Matias Maccelli is set to sit out for a third straight game.

“He obviously wants to play,” Berube said. “He has handled it positively. He knows that he has to be better. We put him in the Washington game, and there wasn’t a lot there. I thought he struggled in that game. We won the last couple, so I am not going to change the lineup.”

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Lines at Wednesday’s practice:

Knies – Matthews – Domi

Cowan – Tavares – Nylander

Joshua – Roy – McMann

Lorentz – Laughton – Robertson

Maccelli, Jarnkrok

Rielly – Ekman-Larsson

McCabe – Stecher

Benoit – Myers

Mermis

Woll

Hildeby