We’re live with the postgame show following tonight’s matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens — a game loaded with pressure on both sides and major implications in a crowded Eastern Conference. No matter how it played out, we’re breaking down every storyline: the Leafs entering the night having lost six of seven, Montreal riding a five-game skid, and both teams desperate to avoid another setback.
We’ll dive into how Craig Berube managed his lineup, including the ongoing debate around Max Domi at center, the decision to sit Jacob Quillan, and how Easton Cowan, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, and Nic Robertson were deployed. We’ll revisit the blue line’s performance, the expectations on Morgan Rielly after recent defensive lapses, and whether Jake McCabe, Benoit, Myers, and Troy Stecher built on their improved play. Plus, we’ll react to Joseph Woll’s start in a high-leverage rivalry game and assess how Toronto handled Montreal’s goaltending situation.
We’ll also check in on whether the Leafs generated the early pressure they needed, how the special teams looked, and whether the team found enough pace, urgency, and structure to stabilize their season. And of course, we’ll review tonight’s bet365 Best Bet segment and track how our picks performed.
Drop your thoughts in the comments — who stood out, what frustrated you, and what you think it means for the road ahead.
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43 Comments
Your breakdown is 157x more entertaining than the game
Weren’t they crucified for challenging and losing a couple of weeks ago? This seems like hindsight 20/20. Just harping on it bc they didn’t do it. They probably would have said Stecher spun Gallagher into Woll. And then if they lose , Habs go on PP to make it 2-0 possible and he’d be yelling about the stupid challenge .
Will was great, Cowan is looking good. Tavares has been amazing . Nylander is showing he’s one of the most skilled guys in the league. It’s not all bad
That praag guy is out to lunch & frankly he fucks the show
Team just doesn't have it sometimes you have to take 1 step back to take 2 steps forward but what trade or FA signing has worked this year…it Fing sucks big time
Not wasting one more second on this team they just suck.
its grim boys
Research the Tilma of Guadalupe. It will change your life in a good way.
You're wrong about Marner. Sure Willie & Tavares are still scoring without him, but they're not doing 10% of what Marner does defensively. He was probably the Leaf's best player, and certainly their most complete. It was choosing Matthews as the golden boy that shaped the uncommitted 'character' of this team for the past decade.
So … how did it go tonight? Hahaha
Leafs are entertaining in the worst way.
It's games like this that makes me sad there is no more sportsnet comment section.
I hear all this make some changes crap. With what assets? This team has given away everything. Cup window closed years ago. More than half the team are AHL/ECHL players. What did you expect out of this team? No point of freaking out and waste your breath on this gutless team. Rebuild yet again and f that up again as well. MLSE has always been a garbage organization who just care about the bottom line than a championship just like any other corporate business. Stop supporting the team if you want to send a real message. Loss of money will wake the board wake up real quick.
"We're right there" -John Tavares
They got a bunch of fourth liners
PRAAG KNOWS BEST! 💪🏼 🍁 LOL
It's such a soft team. Montreal and their merry band of leprechauns made a mockery of them physically. They have had the softest schedule in history and they are now second last in the conference. How many times do we play the blue jackets in a season??? And the injury excuse doesn't stick, they were lousy with Matthews and at this point it's not looking good for Tanev ever coming back…we can't rebuild without assets to rebuild with. We have a slow, old team with very questionable top 6 and bottom 6, we have a very average d-corp and "good" goaltending. Our young guys are all average at best. This is our team. Our questionable forwards can't help our average d-corp protect our good goaltending…it's embarrassing. Morgan Rielly is such a joke, the way he taps opposing players in front of the net like, a mosquito bugging you in summer, so weak. Pronger, Pietreangelo and Weber, that's the kind of defense you need to clear the front of the net, he makes 7.5 million dollars.
Zack …. you got what you asked for period. An old, over the hill, non-passionate collection of big players weight-wise.
As a respectful Habs fan who wants any Canadian team to bring back the cup, the first guy that's gotta go is upstairs and is named Brad.
Stop the bleeding and prevent him to do more awful trades and signings like he did in the short time he's been there.
The Carlo trade is already one of the worst in recent NHL log books and everything is pointing to Boston getting a top 10 pick over the already awful results
Does this dude not know how to make a point without screaming and whining?
No team wants Rielly or Domi, trust me. They would take Nylander in a heartbeat.
They should have traded Matthews and kept Marner
Make up your f**king mind man. Last show at the beginning you were done with Rielly and wanted him to be traded and then later when a caller asked you if the Leafs had any D men you could trust going into the playoffs you immediately said Rielly and now today you are done with Rielly again. Which is it? Pick a lane and stay in it man. Holy f**k.
You're right, Marner isn't exactly tearing up the league points wise and the Knights aren't a power house by any means but you know what else Marner isn't doing? Having to listen to Leaf fans drag him and berate him on a daily basis. I guarantee you Marner will take mediocre play in Las Vegas rather than listen to this stuff again.
Leafs should try Morgan Reilly at wing. You know just for the hell of it
2 hits for Joshua is not a physical player. Go out there and fuckin destroy some guys!
Maple Leafs have too many injuries right now. It is not an excuse but a fact, Matthews,Knies,Carlo, Stolarz, McCabe, …it’s a hard and even league, it’s too difficult to compete without your top players over a significant amount of time.
The only positive we can get from the Leafs play is the beauty post games se get from Zach..he’s bang on every time. God bless him for the Rielly breakdown..another thing that really pisses me off about him is how offensive momentum always dies on his stick..Leafs will be buzzing on the PP, then Rielly will send a muffin from the point right on the goalie’s logo with no Leaf players in front of the net, play dead. Oh and that’s if his point shot actually makes it past the 1st defender which Rielly really struggles doing. He is the worst “good player” Leafs have ever had.
My Daughters U11 hockey team put forth more will,grit and speed then the Leafs last night lol.
Zack you're wrong about Domi. Praag takes the scenic route on making his points but he's right about trading players who still have value for assets. Look at Maccelli – we took on a 3.5 mill contract based on a good season.. 2 YEARS AGO. You can't tell me teams don't trade based on performance potential. This guy had 18 POINTS last year in 55 games.. that's a 26 point pace and you were here talking at the beginning of the season about how he was going to replace some of Mitchs production. We got duped, they got a conditional 3rd + 3.5m cap room for that.. Domi has higher offensive output potential than Macelli AND is more feisty. If you don't see how you can trade Domi for a decent return + cap space, you don't understand negotiating from a position of strength
That lack of long term thinking is what will send this teams competitiveness into another decade long dark age because we're thinking we 'need' to develop Cowan so he needs to play 20 minutes a night. He needs decent ice time and picking up good habits from some vets. We're not making any run this year and we're not trading him so we should start inflating the value of other players not in the long term picture to get some value in return
Leafs management may want to tank this year if they see the injuries are insurmountable. Their first round pick in 2026 traded to Bruins for Carlo is top 5 protected. Tank and be a bottom 5 team and go for Gavin McKenna’s!rebuild! Trade Matthews to Utah for a draft pick!
42:20 valid crashout 😂😂😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭😭
The have been getting bullied forever it seems to me. I just simply do not see any sense of pride whatsoever. It's very hard to watch as a fan. If you fuck with the goalie on any worthwhile team they go haywire on you. Seriously, they should be ashamed and embarrassed.
team needs to rebuild. honestly do any of you even like anyone on this team other than jt and knies? theyre unlikable babies
Trade Matthews to Vegas for Marner! LOL
Here's the Leafs problem. Their star players are divas… they are soft. You bring in a coach who is old school amd wants them to play with grit, block shots, hit… but it's NOT in their DNA. So Brad brings in toughness, but low skill , slow toughness, essentially plugs. Then these "tough" guys see the effort the overly paid stars put in, the lack of urgency, lack of heart and you expect them to bust their ass for the team? Come on now!
Zack is 100% correct. A sofy pampered PR protected bunch. I'm sick of this crap. This roster is not good enough. A retool of this team should begin now
did i hear this stuttering baffoon claim he was an MD? fuck me how can anyone listen to this. my brother in christ never have this guy on again
Just wait. When you are 40+, you'll be like the rest of us older generation Leaf fans. Shocking losses are just like "yep, that tracks" for us now. I was once like you young fellah, it isn't worth the blood pressure spikes. The atmosphere of MLG is long gone, watch some 1993 Western Final youtube videos to understand what it used to be like, fans didn't used to go quiet after a goal against. The Habs closed the Forum but the Bell Centre still has the atmosphere, why is that? Habs fans are just as passionate, but they don't put up with shit and they send you to outter space if you suck no matter who you are.
I wish Nylander would request to get out of his contract and go with another team . The Toronto Fans have been brutal to him . Nylander needs to be with a Team that appreciates him and will pair him with good players . The Fans want him and Matthews gone . With Matthews , Nylander and Marner gone the Fans will get what they deserve . A bunch of players doing nothing . I would be so happy to cheer for those three players on another team . I hope Marner knows how lucky he is to be out of Toronto . I wish him the best . I would do anything to be away from the Toxic environment of Maple Leaf Fans but my Favorite players have always been Matthews , Nylander and Marner ( now gone ) . If Matthews and Nylander leave , I have no loyalty to the Team .
Maple Leafs are now below 500 and in last place? This is crazy.
Dakota Joshua is hot garbage lol
The Leafs haven’t had an elite GM in their prime since Cliff Fletcher 1991-97. Blaming the core 4 is
short sighted. The much bigger issue is the GM/FO, defense, depth outside of top4-5 best players, consistent and goaltending especially compared to the teams who have made the most final 4s, finals (+ won titles) the last 20yrs!
24:38 – this is it, Zack. you're right on the money. This is a team that hasn't had that 'kill for each other' feeling to it since '93- mayyybe '04. But especially now – it's a team dominated by the 34 and 88 mentality of 'I'm a superstar and I don't have to do the tough work.'
I lived in Edmonton for a decade and watched a lot of Oilers hockey, and while I saw the same stuff there a lot I also watched a lot of Matt Hendricks, Luke Gazdic and Zack Kassian going completely ape and either annhiliating guys, or going down swinging while trying to. Those were guys who could make a difference because they cared enough to play the game in the tough spots. Those type of guys – the guys who may not be flashy, but get you thinking 'hell yeah! Let's go!' – the glue guys who help a team bond – have been missing in Toronto for two decades, and boy does it ever show.
*And before the Matthews fans come at me and start ragging about those guys not scoring or doing this and that – JT and WN are scoring right now, and the team is still dying by degrees. And Matthews, JT and Nylander have never, ever played the heavy FAFO style of game that would make people think twice before trying to push them around, so it'sclear as day thst they never will. You play soft and have no grit, you won't win. Plain and simple.