Craig Berube Makes Two Lineup Changes for Tonight's Game Against Boston: Philippe Myers to Make Leafs Debut
Craig Berube is desperate to turn the Toronto Maple Leafs fortunes around, and he's doing some big lineup changes with Max Pacioretty and Philippe Myers.
It was another heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. After crawling back to bring it to game seven, Boston ended things in overtime, crushing the hopes of the Maple Leafs players and fans. Changes were made both on the roster and behind the bench, and Toronto refocused their mentality and added key pieces to help towards finally beating their playoff demons.
So with the Maple Leafs heading to TD Garden in Boston on Saturday night to face off for the first time since Game 7, both teams are looking different from a year ago as we take a look at what both Boston and Toronto have done in the offseason to improve, and how their current seasons are going so far into 2024-2025.
A Painful Game 7 Loss: Recapping the Leafs' Playoff Heartbreak
It was over a decade ago when the Boston Bruins stormed back from 4-1 to stun the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 and then history as always, decided to repeat itself with Boston defeating Toronto in seven games in the first round last season. Granted, Toronto hadn't dominated as they did back in 2013, and they had to crawl back to even get to this spot thanks to Joseph Woll. Heading into the final frame scoreless, both teams potted goals thanks to Hampus Lindholm and William Nylander.
But as overtime crept in, so did the feeling that Toronto was going to blow it. They did, and it signaled that a big shift in focus and mentality had to come to Toronto, as fans and critics were getting frustrated with the lack of production from such a talented roster. Given that the Toronto Maple Leafs fanbase is arguably the most passionate in all of sports, the microscope was zoomed in full on every aspect of the team. Brendan Shanahan took things into consideration and changes to all facets of the team were set to take place.
Craig Berube's Lineup Shaken Up Ahead Of Key Game
So the team decided to shake things up ahead of their game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, replacing Pontus Holmberg with veteran forward Max Pacioretty, and giving Philippe Myers his season debut as he replaces Conor Timmins on the third pairing.
Pacioretty earns himself a spot in the lineup again after being listed as day-to-day for the Maple Leafs after suffering an injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He will be tasked with getting the Maple Leafs third line going, as it's been a tepid start for his linemates, John Tavares and Nick Robertson. Scoring two goals already this year, Pacioretty needs one more to tie last season's output, and while he hasn't exactly played fantastic, he's been better than expected, especially given the concerns before the season started.
Myers will get to make his debut with the Maple Leafs after signing a deal with the team in the offseason. The 27-year-old is a giant on the ice, standing 6'5, and is the perfect candidate to find big minutes in Craig Berube's lineup with a solid defensive performance. Signed by the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted free agent, Myers has bounced around the AHL and NHL but has managed to score 36 points in 158 games so he could provide the Maple Leafs a decent defensive scoring option at times. He's going to be tasked with helping turn the Maple Leafs fortunes around, and giving them another big body will certainly help their case.
Maple Leafs fans hope Pacioretty can stay healthy and build up some momentum, meanwhile, they'll get a look at a potential shutdown defenseman in Myers who could be a huge part of the Leafs going forward. Either way, Craig Berube is trying whatever he needs to get the team back on track.
What Can Toronto Do To Neutralize The Boston Bruins?
Toronto obviously needs to try some drastic measures in order to stop the bleeding, and perhaps the addition of Myers will be the key factor in their turnaround, however, it's going to take a full team effort when it comes to getting a victory. Craig Berube isn't shy about letting his emotions run wild, and it doesn't matter if you're a fourth-liner or Auston Matthews; you're going to get an earful if you mess up.
Toronto can't also get too emotional being back in a place that holds such animosity and heartbreak. There is no doubt the fanbase in Boston is going to be their usual outspoken selves and the Maple Leafs have to ignore any disparaging remarks, chants, or signs the Bruins faithful may throw at them. Their main focus should be on overwhelming the Bruins with shots and offensive pressure, and not try and be too cute when it comes to getting things done.
Shutting down David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will also be a key factor, as both men have notoriously torched the Maple Leafs in the past, and always seem to play with extra motivation versus Toronto. If Toronto can shut them down and give them no room to breathe, the rest of the Boston team will have a harder time getting through the Maple Leafs.
Toronto vs. Boston: Game One
Tonight will be the first meeting between both teams since last year's playoffs, and the anticipation will be at an intense level. Toronto needs a big bounce-back game, and Boston is trying to get themselves back on track as well. It's always an entertaining battle when these two teams face off, and it could be just yet another preview of a potential playoff battle come April.
The Maple Leafs/Bruins game is scheduled to start at 7 PM ET from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
| POLL | ||
Who will win the first game between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
