‘They’re Upset About Things And They’re Pissed Off’: Maple Leafs, Morgan Rielly, Searching For Answers As Sense Of Urgency Mounts
The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves at a critical point of the season. Adversity strikes at different parts of the year for all 32 teams, and the Leafs are in the thick of it.
Losers of five of their last six games, including back-to-back defeats against division rivals Florida and Ottawa, the Leafs are still in the thick of the Atlantic Division race. But with Tampa Bay now tied with them at 81 points and Florida four points ahead, the Leafs have two games in hand, and the urgency to turn things around is rising.
“We've got to get that battle level and that urgency level up. Guys understand that. They're not very happy right now, which is a good thing,” said head coach Craig Berube after practice on Monday. “The message, too, is that we're right there. I mean, we've got two games in hand here. We've got to take care of our business and start with tonight's game only and focus on that and go from there.”
'The Details In Our Game Haven't Been There': Maple Leafs Lose To Desperate Senators In Hunt For The PlayoffsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are playing their worst hockey of the season and that was magnified on Saturday when they fell 4-2 to a surging Ottawa Senators club looking to stake their claim into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Berube acknowledged that energy levels have been an issue, something that has contributed to the team’s struggles. While he noted that Monday’s practice was quiet ahead of the club’s evening matchup with the Calgary Flames, he believed it was for a good reason.
“I didn't love the energy levels the last couple of games, to be honest with you. But, I feel like I felt today in practice they were better. And, it was quiet, but I think that they're not very happy right now. Our group, they're upset about things and they're pissed off. So that's a good thing. But I find that the energy is better today,” said Berube.
One player feeling the weight of the team’s struggles is Morgan Rielly. Through 66 games, the former No.5 overall pick has just 33 points (7G, 26A) in 66 games – his lowest point total since the shortened 2020-21 season.
The 31-year-old has just one assist in his last six games and has posted a minus-five rating over that stretch. His recent play has mirrored the team’s struggles, something Berube pointed out.
“Well, it's dropped off like the rest of our team,” Berube said of Rielly’s play. “With the travel and that stretch we had on the road. And again, energy. He was, he was going pretty good there for a while. And I believe he'll be back. I think again, it's getting the energy back and the excitement back, being at home here now for a bit.”
'I Expect Myself To Handle Any Situation': Can Morgan Rielly's Struggling Offensive Numbers Be Attributed To Maple Leafs' Constant Defensive Partner Shuffle?Rielly has tried out several different defensive partners this season as his contributions on
offense dwindle.
For Rielly, the challenge now is not ony helping the team navigate through adversity but also himself. The Leafs’ leadership group, including Rielly, is tasked with finding solutions, and fast.
“We're in a position now where we're dealing with a little bit of adversity,” Rielly said. “And we've got to push through. We're capable of doing that. I think the test for us at this time is good, and it's an important one for us to deal with head-on, and we're going to work right through it.”
“I think when you come back from the 4 Nations break, those games mean more. If you look at our division, it's tight. The Eastern Conference is tight, and so your games are important. The points are important. You can't afford to give points away, especially within your division,” he added.
'It Weighs On Everybody': Auston Matthews Takes Maple Leafs' Morning Skate Off Amid Scoring StrugglesMatthews has scored 23 goals in 50 games this season, well below last year's total.
With just 16 games left in the regular season, it’s an important stretch coming up for the Leafs. Not only does the club need to start compiling points, it’s going to be about rediscovering their identity, tightening up their game, finding their form, and building the right habits for the playoffs.
As Rielly indicates, the time to respond is now.
“It's just about coming together and acknowledging that we need to improve and the importance of this time of year and the points that are at stake every night,” said Rielly. “And improving on the areas that we've identified. So it's a good test for us at this time of year. I think it's a really good opportunity for our group to improve and overcome it.”
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