{"id":508419,"date":"2026-03-17T20:53:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/508419\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T20:53:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:53:14","slug":"leafs-playing-with-a-lot-of-passion-since-non-response-to-matthews-injury-tsn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/508419\/","title":{"rendered":"Leafs \u2018playing with a lot of passion\u2019 since non-response to Matthews injury \u2013 TSN"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Maple Leafs and New York Islanders<\/a> (optional) skated at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Leafs are responding well after not responding at all. <\/p>\n

Toronto is 2-0-1 after watching captain Auston Matthews<\/a> leave last Thursday\u2019s game against the Anaheim Ducks<\/a> in the second period following a knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Matthews sustained a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion and will not play again this season. Gudas received a five-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety. <\/p>\n

None of the Leafs on the ice confronted Gudas immediately after the hit. Head coach Craig Berube<\/a> made it clear that was unacceptable in the intermission, which led to a big third period and the team\u2019s first win since Feb. 3 snapping an eight-game skid (0-6-2). <\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, I wish I did something and that\u2019s on me,\u201d said rookie Easton Cowan<\/a>, who was the closest teammate to Matthews when he got hit by Gudas. \u201cI gotta step in there, stick up for my teammate, so I\u2019ll learn from that for sure … I feel like we\u2019re just kind of playing for him now and playing with a lot of passion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toronto followed up Thursday\u2019s comeback win by earning three of four points during a tough road back-to-back against the Buffalo Sabres<\/a> and Minnesota Wild<\/a> over the weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it\u2019s a wake-up call,\u201d Berube said. \u201cIt really is … if I look back from that game on and how competitive we\u2019ve been and how physical we\u2019ve been, it\u2019s a big difference for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt brought a little bit more fire to our game,\u201d said winger William Nylander<\/a>, who passed the puck to Matthews before he got hit by Gudas.<\/p>\n

The entire hockey world seemed to be talking about what happened and the Leafs certainly continued to talk about it. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ve talked about almost daily,\u201d Berube revealed. \u201cAbout getting in there for each other and being physical and hard to play against.\u201d<\/p>\n

The coach pointed out that defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> jumped right in after goalie Joseph Woll<\/a> got run into by Noah Ostlund<\/a> on Saturday night. <\/p>\n

\u201cOEL\u2019s right in there and we have everybody in there,\u201d said Berube. \u201cThat\u2019s what we need to look like all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Leafs registered 35 hits Saturday in Buffalo, which matched their season high in that department. <\/p>\n

The Leafs had a season-high 28 blocked shots in their win over the Wild on Sunday. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re playing a little bit harder, a little more competitive,\u201d said defenceman Jake McCabe<\/a>, who blocked nine shots. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see. We need to continue that on.\u201d <\/p>\n

‘Brought more fire’: Leafs talk about lack of response to Gudas knee on Matthews ‘almost daily’ After Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews went down from a knee-on-knee collision with Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas, head coach Craig Berube did not like the teams lack of response about the incident but sees it as a ‘wake up call’ to his team to play with a bit more edge competitively and physically. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Berube did not like what he was seeing at Tuesday\u2019s morning skate and continually let the players know about it. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe just didn\u2019t seem as sharp,\u201d said centre John Tavares<\/a>. \u201cNot as much zip out there this morning. He was pretty intense and brought the emotion early today. Sometimes that\u2019s needed in a long season and a grind. Obviously we\u2019ve had quite the schedule here of late and got in very late after [Sunday\u2019s game] and sometimes a morning like this can come across as a little sleepier, so [he\u2019s] just trying to grab everyone\u2019s attention and making sure we\u2019re ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Due to the condensed schedule, the Leafs have opted to hold just one full practice since the games resumed following the Olympic break. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a long, long flight from Minny home, and guys are a little sleepy,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a lot of practice time, so when we do some structure drills, I want them done properly more than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one point, Berube told his top line of Tavares between Matias Maccelli<\/a> and Nylander not to go for the tic-tac-toe play because it won\u2019t be available during the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cShooting the puck,\u201d Berube said of his message during the skate. \u201cHarped on that a lot, trying to get more shot volume out of our guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The report out of Islanders practice on Monday was that rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer<\/a> expected to have 1,000 supporters in the stands for his first homecoming game in Toronto.<\/p>\n

Is that true? <\/p>\n

\u201cJust with people I\u2019ve grew up with and things like that, like teachers and family and stuff like that, it could be close to that,\u201d the Hamilton, Ont. native said with a smile. \u201cThat could be pushing it a little bit. I saw that [number] come out, could be pushing it a bit, but, yeah, there\u2019s going to be so many people here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among those in the crowd will be his paternal grandmother, who will be attending in a wheelchair. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis actually could be her first NHL game ever and it will be the first time watching me in the NHL,\u201d Schaefer said. \u201cI think she\u2019s come to a couple minor hockey games growing up so that will be pretty special for me and her tonight. It will be awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schaefer grew up a Leafs fan and was actually in the stands wearing a Matthews sweater during the Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers<\/a> last spring. Asked what the game means to him overall, the 18-year-old defenceman kept the focus on New York\u2019s playoff push. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super excited for tonight\u2019s game, but you don\u2019t want to get carried away from what we got going on as this team,\u201d the Calder Trophy frontrunner said. \u201cI think we\u2019re going to come out hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schaefer scored twice, including the overtime winner, in his first game against the Leafs on Jan. 3. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been handling all that very well,\u201d said head coach Patrick Roy<\/a>. \u201cPlaying in Montreal was a good one and he handled it really well and same thing when the Leafs came in on Long Island … I feel like he\u2019s handling those situations really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schaefer expects close to 1,000 supporters in building for first NHL game in Toronto Hamilton Ontario native Matthew Schaefer will have nearly 1,000 friends and family in attendance at Scotiabank Arena for his first game in Toronto as the Islanders take on the Maple Leafs Tuesday night. Schaefer spoke about coming back to his roots in his homecoming game, what the game means to him and who he expects to see in the stands cheering him on. <\/p>\n

— <\/p>\n

How many people did Tavares have in the stands when he played his first NHL game in Toronto during the 2009-10 season? <\/p>\n

\u201cI want to say 70, 80 maybe,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI feel like that\u2019s pretty high.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, what does Tavares think of the latest Islanders first-overall pick expecting close to 1,000 people? <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what he said?\u201d Tavares responded with surprise. \u201cI don\u2019t know him, but you see from afar, and what a lot of people say about his character, pretty impressive head he has on his shoulders to go along with the hockey player that he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schaefer is averaging 24 minutes and 21 seconds of ice time per game. He\u2019s scored 20 goals, which is tied for the lead among all rookies. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty remarkable,\u201d said Tavares, who scored 24 goals as a rookie. \u201cHe\u2019s doing things only a handful of players have done. It\u2019s extremely, extremely impressive. He\u2019s not just a franchise player, but he\u2019s certainly put himself in a generational type of a talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tavares praises ‘generational’ Schaefer, reflects on his first homecoming game John Tavares spoke with media ahead of the Maple Leafs’ tilt with the Islanders Tuesday night and shared his thoughts on the incredible talent of Hamilton, Ontario native Matthew Schaefer, who is playing his first game in Toronto. Tavares also reminisced about his performance in his first homecoming game and what it meant to him to have friends in family there in support. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Does fellow Islanders rookie Cal Ritchie feel like his homecoming game is getting overshadowed? <\/p>\n

\u201cBy Schaefer\u2019s 1,000 people coming?\u201d the Oakville, Ont. native asked with a grin. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019m just glad to have all my family here, all my friends. It\u2019s going to be a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ritchie notes he\u2019s \u201cplaying for free\u201d on Tuesday even though he doesn\u2019t have as many people coming as Schaefer. <\/p>\n

Ritchie attended plenty of games at Scotiabank Arena while growing up a Leafs fan. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d the 21-year-old forward said. \u201cI was at dinner with my parents yesterday, my sister, and we were talking about just how crazy it is I\u2019m playing in this building. It will be pretty cool to be on that ice tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Schaefer’s shadow, Isles’ Ritchie prepares for his own ‘crazy’ homecoming game Oakville, Ontario’s Calum Ritchie is also playing his first game in Toronto tonight and reacted to Matthew Schaefer’s near 1,000 guests in attendance, reflects on what it means to play at Scotiabank Arena and explains who will be in the stands this evening in support of him. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Nylander missed Toronto\u2019s first game against Schaefer and the Islanders due to injury. <\/p>\n

\u201cI watched that game when we played him last time,\u201d Nylander said. \u201cHe had a great game. I haven\u2019t really been watching too much, but just been hearing that he\u2019s having a great year so it will be fun to play him for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nylander will be looking to start a new point streak after his eight-game run came to an end on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Nylander leads the Leafs with 63 points despite playing just 51 games. The team will lean on him even more with Matthews out. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe obviously has the ability to score goals and produce for us,\u201d said Berube. \u201cAnd that\u2019s part of his job. But the other side of the game is he\u2019s accountable to checking and doing all the right things like everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berube had Nylander do a penalty-kill rep during the morning skate. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s done it before and we\u2019re short on PKers a little bit,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe\u2019s got such a good stick and quickness that he can make it dangerous for the other team at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berube may use Nylander at the end of penalty kills moving forward. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just testing it out and we\u2019ll see what happens with it,\u201d Nylander said with a grin. <\/p>\n

What is Nylander looking to get out of the final 14 games? <\/p>\n

\u201cJust to play good as a team and I think building our game and have a good feeling with where our game\u2019s at regardless of what happens,\u201d the 29-year-old Swede said.<\/p>\n

Nylander hopes Leafs can build good feeling about team game ‘regardless what happens’ With only a few weeks left in the NHL season, Leafs forward William Nylander hopes to have the team build their game to a place where they can feel happy about where they are at season’s close. Head coach Craig Berube says he wants to see a certain level of competitiveness out of Nylander down the stretch and explains why he’s found a home on the penalty kill. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Ekman-Larsson did not take part in Tuesday\u2019s skate after missing Sunday\u2019s game to be with his wife for the birth of the couple\u2019s second child. The Swede\u2019s status for the game against the Islanders is up in the air. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s spent the last couple days in the hospital with his wife, so he\u2019s resting right now,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe\u2019ll give me an update later on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Lines at Leafs skate: <\/p>\n

Maccelli – Tavares – Nylander<\/p>\n

Knies – Domi – Cowan <\/p>\n

Joshua – Groulx – Robertson<\/p>\n

Lorentz – Quillan – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n

Rielly – Myers<\/p>\n

McCabe – Carlo<\/p>\n

Benoit – Stecher<\/p>\n

Woll starts<\/p>\n

Stolarz<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Maple Leafs and New York Islanders (optional) skated at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. — The Leafs are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":505685,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5106],"tags":[4759,33999,36871,5,20,5172,4,59305,66,31,32467,5171,34972],"class_list":{"0":"post-508419","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-toronto-maple-leafs","8":"tag-apple-news","9":"tag-auston-matthews-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8479318","10":"tag-easton-cowan-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8484158","11":"tag-hockey","12":"tag-maple-leafs","13":"tag-mapleleafs","14":"tag-nhl","15":"tag-radko-gudas-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8475462","16":"tag-toronto","17":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs","18":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs-sports-hockey-team-team-nhl-api-10","19":"tag-torontomapleleafs","20":"tag-william-nylander-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8477939"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116246505567625355","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=508419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508419\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/505685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=508419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=508419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=508419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}