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    David Alter
    David Alter
    May 14, 2025, 11:00
    Updated at: May 14, 2025, 11:00
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    Despite hinting at some possible changes to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup following a Game 4 loss to the Florida Panthers, Toronto head coach Craig Berube elected to keep his lines the same during the team's practice.

    Does that mean the Leafs will deploy the same lineup on Wednesday ahead of Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena?

    "There's possible moves," Berube said. "You've got to look at what are you taking out, what are you putting in, what's the benefit, taking these two... one guy, two guys out, putting two new guys in. What are they providing? What are we losing? It's always a combination. But at the same time, sometimes a change is good."

    Toronto called for an optional practice, but later upgraded that to a full skate with everyone on the ice except for Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The defenseman was kept off the ice after he was "a little sick", according to Berube.

    So what changes could the Leafs make?

    Nick Robertson has been a healthy scratch since dressing in Game 2 of the Leafs' first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. With the Leafs in need of an offensive boost after being shut out 2-0 in Florida in Game 4, a fresh Robertson could help spark the offense. He also has the ability to have a big game following a rest. In seven games Robertson played after being a healthy scratch, he has four goals and two assists.

    'It's Not Exactly What I Want To See': Why The Maple Leafs Are Hesitant To Split Up Mitch Marner And Auston Matthews Against Panthers 'It's Not Exactly What I Want To See': Why The Maple Leafs Are Hesitant To Split Up Mitch Marner And Auston Matthews Against Panthers Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is in no hurry to break up the Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner pairing.

    Who would come out?

    Calle Jarnkrok, Steven Lorentz, Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann each have just one assist in 10 playoff games. I can't see Berube altering Scott Laughton's line, so Lorentz and Jarnkrok are probably staying in. That leaves Holmberg and McMann. McMann has struggled to find his game during what is his first postseason in the NHL and hasn't scored a goal since March 25. Although Holmberg skated the fewest minutes of any player in Toronto's Game 4 loss, he has become someone Berube trusts. The coach oftentimes moves the Swedish forward into the top-six during games to help the club protect a lead.

     When discussing McMann ahead of Game 4, Berube said he felt the player could do a better job getting to the net.

    'We Don't Need To Take Those': Maple Leafs' Discipline Issues In Game 4 Killed Momentum In Loss To Panthers 'We Don't Need To Take Those': Maple Leafs' Discipline Issues In Game 4 Killed Momentum In Loss To Panthers The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to do what no team had done throughout the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs until their 2-0 Game 4 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday... They took four penalties in the opening 20 minutes of the game.

    "He's going to get his looks from his speed and the shot but he needs to get around the paint more," Berube said.

    Things could effectively stay the same.

    Berube has stuck to his guns, even when it looked like a change was necessary. Following Game 5 in their opening-round series against the Senators, Berube stayed with the same lineup, feeling a change would be an overreaction. And that could be the case here. Aside from not scoring any goals, Toronto was undisciplined and he may just want to give his current group another shot instead of making a knee-jerk reaction.


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