<p>The <a href="http://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> have a long way to go before they&#8217;re playoff ready.</p>
<p>In the latest edition of the Battle of Ontario at Scotiabank Arena, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/2025/03/15/scenes-from-toronto-maple-leafs-morning-skate-matthews-ottawa-senators-berube-shuffles-stolarz-starts/">the Ottawa Senators</a> used a physical tight-checking style of play to take down the Maple Leafs 4-2. For what was supposed to be a playoff-like game, the intensity was lacking from the Leafs, and their sense of urgency was non-existent throughout most of the matchup.</p>
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<p>Craig Berube put the lines in a blender entering Saturday&#8217;s contest, which certainly turned some heads considering he had Toronto&#8217;s leading goal scorer William Nylander starting on the third line. Mitch Marner, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-auston-matthews-defensive-impact-goal-scoring-woes">Auston Matthews</a> and Nylander were split up to start the game, and spent most of the night apart, besides a stretch later in the third period when Marner and Matthews reunited with Matthew Knies on the top line.</p>
<p>Matthews and Nylander both scored, so Berube can hang his hat on that. With just over a month until the start of the playoffs, and with two key additions at the trade deadline, the Leafs have chemistry problems right now, which is becoming slightly concerning.</p>
<p><a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scott-laughton-chills-toronto-maple-leafs-home-debut-physical-battle-of-ontario">Scott Laughton</a> tried to spark the Leafs once they were down a goal late in the second period, dropping the gloves with Ridly Greig:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GREIG AND LAUGHTON OFF THE FACE-OFF 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/bNVwcs9crq">pic.twitter.com/bNVwcs9crq</a></p>
<p>— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1901070924654223684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p>It was Laughton&#8217;s first scrap in blue and white and while it may have given the Leafs some legs to finish the second frame, the crowd&#8217;s response generated some &#8216;noise&#8217;, for all the wrong reasons. Take it away, Jay:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A newly acquired local kid fighting the enemy at centre ice on Saturday night.</p>
<p>Sounded like the building was EMPTY.</p>
<p>It’s honestly embarrassing.</p>
<p>— Jay Rosehill (@Jay_D_Rosehill) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jay_D_Rosehill/status/1901070964588470503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t all bad for the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Matthews got back on the scoresheet, potting his 24th on the season. Nick Robertson was re-inserted on the Leafs&#8217; fourth line, and wound up making his way up the lineup throughout the game, finishing the night with a shot on goal, and two blocks. The Leafs outhit the Senators 39-24, but it was Ottawa&#8217;s attention to details defensively, and the strong play of goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is coming into form in a major way for the Sens.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, Game 66 was one to forget. The Senators continue to dominate the Maple Leafs this season, winning their third straight, and they are quickly becoming a problem as the playoffs approach.</p>
<p>It was nice to have a Battle of Ontario this late in the season mean something for once, so let&#8217;s give the Senators some credit. Regardless of how Berube structured his lines Saturday night, it wasn&#8217;t enough and there was no sustained offensive pressure. Frankly, the Maple Leafs have a long way to go until they&#8217;re a finished product.</p>
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Toronto Maple Leafs Scott Laughton crashes into Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators.

The <a href="http://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> have a long way to go before they're playoff ready.

In the latest edition of the Battle of Ontario at Scotiabank Arena, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/2025/03/15/scenes-from-toronto-maple-leafs-morning-skate-matthews-ottawa-senators-berube-shuffles-stolarz-starts/">the Ottawa Senators</a> used a physical tight-checking style of play to take down the Maple Leafs 4-2. For what was supposed to be a playoff-like game, the intensity was lacking from the Leafs, and their sense of urgency was non-existent throughout most of the matchup.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block"></div>
Craig Berube put the lines in a blender entering Saturday's contest, which certainly turned some heads considering he had Toronto's leading goal scorer William Nylander starting on the third line. Mitch Marner, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-auston-matthews-defensive-impact-goal-scoring-woes">Auston Matthews</a> and Nylander were split up to start the game, and spent most of the night apart, besides a stretch later in the third period when Marner and Matthews reunited with Matthew Knies on the top line.

Matthews and Nylander both scored, so Berube can hang his hat on that. With just over a month until the start of the playoffs, and with two key additions at the trade deadline, the Leafs have chemistry problems right now, which is becoming slightly concerning.

<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/scott-laughton-chills-toronto-maple-leafs-home-debut-physical-battle-of-ontario">Scott Laughton</a> tried to spark the Leafs once they were down a goal late in the second period, dropping the gloves with Ridly Greig:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GREIG AND LAUGHTON OFF THE FACE-OFF 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/bNVwcs9crq">pic.twitter.com/bNVwcs9crq</a></p>
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1901070924654223684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
It was Laughton's first scrap in blue and white and while it may have given the Leafs some legs to finish the second frame, the crowd's response generated some 'noise', for all the wrong reasons. Take it away, Jay:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A newly acquired local kid fighting the enemy at centre ice on Saturday night.</p>
Sounded like the building was EMPTY.

It’s honestly embarrassing.

— Jay Rosehill (@Jay_D_Rosehill) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jay_D_Rosehill/status/1901070964588470503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
It wasn't all bad for the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Matthews got back on the scoresheet, potting his 24th on the season. Nick Robertson was re-inserted on the Leafs' fourth line, and wound up making his way up the lineup throughout the game, finishing the night with a shot on goal, and two blocks. The Leafs outhit the Senators 39-24, but it was Ottawa's attention to details defensively, and the strong play of goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is coming into form in a major way for the Sens.

At the end of the day, Game 66 was one to forget. The Senators continue to dominate the Maple Leafs this season, winning their third straight, and they are quickly becoming a problem as the playoffs approach.

It was nice to have a Battle of Ontario this late in the season mean something for once, so let's give the Senators some credit. Regardless of how Berube structured his lines Saturday night, it wasn't enough and there was no sustained offensive pressure. Frankly, the Maple Leafs have a long way to go until they're a finished product.
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