Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Marc Savard has learned from bench boss Craig Berube to keep his composure amid his postseason passion.

When the Leafs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, Savard was visibly fired up on the bench.

Next to him stood Berube, the Leafs’ first-year head coach, who, in typical Berube fashion, didn’t budge. His glance toward Savard after that second goal in Game 1 seemed to say it all: Settle down, pump the brakes, it’s a long road ahead.

"We Stayed With It': Maple Leafs Halt Senators' Comeback Bid To Take 2-0 Series Lead Max Domi scored the overtime winner as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series on Tuesday. 

Berube knows not to get ahead of himself, especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Game 2, the Leafs' opening goal, which came early in the first period, Savard was much more composed. There were a couple of claps and a few fist pumps, but he wasn't celebrating too hard.

“We ask the players to be composed. We talk about it all the time,” Berube said with a smile ahead of Game 3 in Ottawa. “So, that goes for us, too. Sometimes it’s difficult.”

However, in overtime, when Max Domi buried the game-winner to give Toronto a 2-0 series lead, Savard grabbed Berube by the suit and gave him a shake. The instance was caught from various angles on the broadcast, with Berube seen cracking up during the moment.

Composure, of course, doesn’t mean emotionless, especially not for Savard, who’s riding the rollercoaster of his first playoff run behind the Leafs’ bench. The former NHLer is in his debut season as a Toronto assistant, running the power play under Berube, who brought him in after being hired last summer.

And in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s been clicking.

Toronto’s man advantage has been red-hot to open the postseason. The Leafs struck three times on the power play in Game 1 — something they hadn’t done in a playoff game since the 1999 Eastern Conference Final. Through two games, they’ve scored four power-play goals in just 38 seconds of total game time.

“I think just being able to generate chances. Getting different looks. Not just scoring in one way, being able to facilitate the puck around and score in different ways and try to get in different looks when we do get the man advantage,” said Matthews on the success of the power-play.

Now, heading into Game 3 with a chance to take a stranglehold on the series against Ottawa, composure will be at the forefront, not just on the ice, but behind the bench.

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