The Toronto Maple Leafs are rolling with the same lineup that's resulted in playoff success in the past, with Game 6 against the Florida Panthers on the horizon.
After scoring Toronto's only goal in their 6-1 loss to the Panthers on Wednesday, Nick Robertson comes out of the lineup with David Kampf. Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg, who've played all but one playoff game (their most recent loss), will return to the forward group.
Although Jarnkrok, Steven Lorentz, and Scott Laughton have combined for five points through 11 games (10 for Jarnkrok), head coach Craig Berube has enjoyed what he's received from that trio.
"Just, I liked our game with the other guys in the lineup," Toronto's head coach said Friday morning about the switch. "We've played good hockey with that lineup we have tonight."
Going into Game 6, there were questions about whether Berube would split up Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The duo has combined for seven points throughout the series against Florida, but has gone quiet, much like the entire team, through the last two games.
Berube admitted that while it's "always a consideration," he will keep them together for Game 6, which could possibly be their final game together as teammates.
"I've split them up this year at times, and I never felt that it really did anything, to be honest with you," he said.
Maple Leafs' projected lineup for Game 6
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Max Domi — Max Pacioretty
Steven Lorentz — Scott Laughton — Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Joseph Woll starts
Matt Murray
A Maple Leafs win could depend on how the team starts in Florida. Berube referenced the start of Game 5 on Friday morning, saying that his team was not skating and "stood around and watched" while the Panthers generated 13 shots in the first period.
It must be the opposite if Toronto wants a different result.
Now, there are plenty of players with experience on this team: Ekman-Larsson and Lorentz, who've won the Stanley Cup, plus Pacioretty, Carlo, and Tanev. However, if the Maple Leafs truly want to reach the top, their big players must get going.
While that includes everyone, there should be an emphasis on Matthews getting on the board on Friday. He's yet to score in this series, and Toronto could use his scoring in this massive game.
"You want to score, you want to do that," Toronto's captain said Friday morning.
"I'm just going to continue to shoot, continue to compete out there and work and do the little things to the best of my ability. And when those opportunities come, I'm just going to keep shooting and keep believing that the next one's going in."
For several years, we've watched Marner and Matthews use trickery on teams to put the Maple Leafs ahead in games. It's been few and far between in the playoffs, but there are moments where they've exploited teams.
That needs to happen again.
Of course, this Panthers team is the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and they might be better than last year's version. But Toronto still has a chance. The Maple Leafs have beaten them twice before.
They have to win the biggest game of their lives on Friday to have another one of the biggest games of their life on Sunday. The entire team will need to rip a piece of skin off the Panthers to do that, though.
And Berube hopes that it occurs with Matthews and Marner at the forefront.
"These guys have been a combo for a long time, and they've had a lot of success. I trust them. I believe in them."
