May 1, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pachioretty (67) celebrates with team his goal scored in game six of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
With 25 seconds left on the clock in a one-goal game, it wasn’t a member of the ‘Core Four’ who made the defining play of the Toronto Maple Leafs' series-clinching win – it was Scott Laughton, throwing himself in front of a Jake Sanderson slap shot to preserve the lead.
In the moments that followed, William Nylander buried the empty-netter after winning a foot race against Sanderson, sealing a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 6 and punching Toronto’s ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs – just the second time they’ve done so since 2004.
“What a block by Laughton at the end of the game. That’s laying it on the line,” head coach Craig Berube said post-game. “That’s how you win a series right there. You may not see them on the scoresheet, but they’re valuable players for us that do a lot of other things right.”
Laughton’s block capped off what Berube described as a “great series” from his bottom six, a group that didn’t have their fingerprints all over the scoresheet but made their presence felt, especially when it mattered most.
The Leafs had a 3-0 stranglehold lead in the Battle of Ontario but dropped Games 4 and 5, giving the Senators life and serious momentum. However, Game 6 at Canadian Tire Centre saw Toronto grab a 2-0 lead early in the second, only for Ottawa to claw back and tie it in the third.
But just 1:41 after David Perron tied it at two, the bottom six delivered the game-winner — and series-winner.
Max Domi battled behind the net and fed Max Pacioretty in front, who buried his first goal since December, beating goaltender Linus Ullmark with help from a Pontus Holmberg screen in front. It marked Pacioretty’s fourth career series-clinching goal and only the second tally from Toronto’s bottom six all series.
Pacioretty, who started the game on the second line alongside Nylander and John Tavares, had been shifted down in the third. Though it didn’t matter, the veteran came through in crunch time, just one example of Berube’s faith in his depth players paying off.
“It's a huge goal, obviously, and I thought he had some opportunities early. He hit the post early. He had a nice play on Willy's goal. Good stick, broke a play up. He did a real good job for us. Veteran guy's been around, playing a lot of playoff games, so he came through tonight for us,” Berube explained.
Berube had significant trust in his bottom six throughout the series, and it paid serious dividends. Pacioretty had a goal and an assist in the game while Domi and Holmberg also added helpers in Game 6. To cap it off, every bottom-six forward played more than 10 minutes in the series finale, with Laughton and Pacioretty each logging more than 13 minutes.
Beyond the scoresheet, the fourth line of Laughton, Steven Lorentz, and Calle Jarnkrok were among Toronto’s most consistent forechecking efforts throughout the series, in addition to their abilities to swing the momentum. They combined for 44 hits across six games. Add in Bobby McMann, Holmberg, Domi, and Pacioretty, and that number jumps to 106.
“I get it. We need everybody to contribute in the playoffs for sure. But it's not all on the scoresheet all the time. They do other things. You take the Laughton line. These guys, I thought they played a great series. I thought they were so effective for us in checking, killing, momentum,” said Berube.
For Laughton, who arrived at the trade deadline to give the Leafs more versatility and bite in their bottom six, primarily in a center position, Game 6 was an example of the role he was brought in to play.
Gritty, playoff-esque, putting his body on the line.
“I think we can provide a little bit more offense for us, but at the same time, still do our job and make it hard for them,” Laughton said ahead of Thursday's clincher.
As Berube attested, that is an example of the plays you need to win a playoff series. Simply put, he was solid throughout all six games of the Battle of Ontario, and that is why the bench boss leaned on the 30-year-old and the bottom six down the stretch.
Turning the page to the second round, the Leafs have a rematch from the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, which the Leafs lost in five games. As they did against Ottawa, Toronto will need to match Florida’s intensity through all four lines with purpose as an underdog in the series.
