<p>It&#8217;s the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/its-time-toronto-maple-leafs-stars-deliver-most-important-game-core-four-era">most important game of the year</a> for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and head coach Craig Berube shuffled the lines ahead of Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators.</p>
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<p>Max Pacioretty will be joining John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line, while Pontus Holmberg shifts down as the third-line centre, with Bobby McMann and Max Domi on the wings. Holmberg previously occupied the second-line left wing slot alongside Tavares and Nylander throughout the series.</p>
<p>Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander were the Maple Leafs&#8217; third-most commonly-used unit during the regular season, with a plus-three goal differential and a 48.5 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5, via Natural Stat Trick.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My preferred option would&#39;ve been McMann-Tavares-Nylander, but this is a group Berube trusts. Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander were Leafs&#39; 3rd-most commonly used unit at 5-on-5 (172:37) with plus-3 (11-8) goal differential, -6 shot differential (85-91) and 48.5 xG% (<a href="https://twitter.com/NatStatTrick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NatStatTrick</a>) <a href="https://t.co/eTnkvsPnq7">https://t.co/eTnkvsPnq7</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arunthings/status/1917968317765009435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Pacioretty entered the lineup for Game 3 in place of Nick Robertson and hasn&#8217;t looked back, but he hasn&#8217;t found the scoresheet in three games. The 36-year-old is valued for his physicality, but it&#8217;s possible he could be dropped further down in the lineup if Berube is forced to <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-lineup-card-need-tinkering-game-6">make some in-game adjustments</a> against the Senators.</p>
<p>&#8220;I just didn’t feel that we needed that right now. There’s a lot to like in our game the way it’s going,&#8221; Berube said, when asked why Robertson remains out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game.</p>
<p>Berube hasn&#8217;t made any changes to the defence corps, and Anthony Stolarz will start for the sixth consecutive game. Stolarz has posted an .899 save percentage in five games and was stellar through the early parts of the series. Joseph Woll will be the backup and though he was strong throughout the regular season, Berube hasn&#8217;t seriously considered going away from Stolarz ahead of Thursday&#8217;s game.</p>
<p>&#8220;Business-like, let&#8217;s go. We&#8217;re ready to go. Business. Let&#8217;s go,&#8221; Berube said during Thursday&#8217;s media availability via <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1917975579003093013">The Athletic&#8217;s Chris Johnston</a>.</p>
<p>It doesn&#8217;t appear that the Senators will be making any changes to their lineup from Game 5.</p>
<h3>Maple Leafs&#8217; projected lineup vs. Senators</h3>
<p><em>Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner </em></p>
<p><em>Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander</em></p>
<p><em>Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Max Domi</em></p>
<p><em>Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok</em></p>
<p><em>Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo </em></p>
<p><em>Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev </em></p>
<p><em>Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson</em></p>
<p><em>Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)</em></p>
<p><em>Joseph Woll</em></p>
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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It's the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/its-time-toronto-maple-leafs-stars-deliver-most-important-game-core-four-era">most important game of the year</a> for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and head coach Craig Berube shuffled the lines ahead of Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators.
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Max Pacioretty will be joining John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line, while Pontus Holmberg shifts down as the third-line centre, with Bobby McMann and Max Domi on the wings. Holmberg previously occupied the second-line left wing slot alongside Tavares and Nylander throughout the series.

Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander were the Maple Leafs' third-most commonly-used unit during the regular season, with a plus-three goal differential and a 48.5 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5, via Natural Stat Trick.

https://twitter.com/Arunthings/status/1917968317765009435

Pacioretty entered the lineup for Game 3 in place of Nick Robertson and hasn't looked back, but he hasn't found the scoresheet in three games. The 36-year-old is valued for his physicality, but it's possible he could be dropped further down in the lineup if Berube is forced to <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-lineup-card-need-tinkering-game-6">make some in-game adjustments</a> against the Senators.

"I just didn’t feel that we needed that right now. There’s a lot to like in our game the way it’s going," Berube said, when asked why Robertson remains out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game.

Berube hasn't made any changes to the defence corps, and Anthony Stolarz will start for the sixth consecutive game. Stolarz has posted an .899 save percentage in five games and was stellar through the early parts of the series. Joseph Woll will be the backup and though he was strong throughout the regular season, Berube hasn't seriously considered going away from Stolarz ahead of Thursday's game.

"Business-like, let's go. We're ready to go. Business. Let's go," Berube said during Thursday's media availability via <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1917975579003093013">The Athletic's Chris Johnston</a>.

It doesn't appear that the Senators will be making any changes to their lineup from Game 5.
<h3>Maple Leafs' projected lineup vs. Senators</h3>
<em>Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner </em>

<em>Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander</em>

<em>Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Max Domi</em>

<em>Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok</em>

<em>Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo </em>

<em>Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev </em>

<em>Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson</em>

<em>Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)</em>

<em>Joseph Woll</em>
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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Leafs practice notes: Pacioretty moved to Tavares-Nylander line ahead of Game 6 vs. Senators

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