The Toronto Maple Leafs are known for their Core Four of superstar forwards—Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. Having such elite scorers has always been a two-edged sword, however. The Aces and Spaces lineup has benefitted the team during the regular season but has been shut down far too easily during the postseason. They need to take the next step toward postseason relevancy, and for that, their secondary scoring has to step up.
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The depth players have stood out over the two most recent games – back-to-backs against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night and against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Their contributions are taking some pressure off the top scorers, which was a big reason behind the team’s recent success. In both wins, fans witnessed how crucial secondary scoring can be.
Against Hurricanes and Blackhawks: Unexpected Heroes Emerged
The Maple Leafs beat the Hurricanes 6-3 on Saturday, and it wasn’t just Matthews and Tavares doing the damage. Pontus Holmberg was a standout with two goals and an assist. Alex Steeves significantly impacted the game, scoring his first NHL goal and adding an assist. Defensive specialist David Kampf got in on the action with a goal. It wasn’t all about the stars—everyone chipped in.
Similarly, on Sunday in Chicago, the Maple Leafs took care of business against the Blackhawks with a 5-2 win. Nicholas Robertson had a breakout game, scoring two goals, including the game-winner. Despite not scoring in a while, Max Domi assisted on both of Robertson’s goals. Blueliners Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe, two players known more for their stellar defensive play and shot-blocking, each added a goal and an assist. Fans don’t see Tanev on the scoresheet often, so those contributions were pleasant surprises. Holmberg sealed the win with an empty-net goal—his third in two games.
Why Depth Scoring Matters to the Maple Leafs
The NHL is about balance, especially in the salary cap era. Teams can’t just rely on their big guns to score. The Maple Leafs have started to show that recently. Players like Steeves, Holmberg, and Kampf have stepped up when it matters most. Their ability to step into more prominent roles has made Toronto a more challenging team. It’s not just the Core Four opponents have to worry…
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