Fighting Maple Leafs providing ‘grit … that’s needed in playoffs’

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The Maple Leafs have fought 12 this season.

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That was the number of leaves thrown by the gloves in 2024-25, and forward Steven Lorentz added his name to the roster while fighting Sean Kuraly of Columbus Blue Jacket on Saturday night.

“Our team has some great perseverance, which is needed in the playoffs,” winger William Nylander said after scoring two goals in the 5-0 victory at Scotiabank Arena. “The men do a great job in fighting. It lets them go, which shows they are ready to play every night.”

Will Ye fight once the Stanley Cup playoffs begin? Not necessarily, but it is obvious that the team’s mentality has changed.

“We need the push, it protects your teammates and helps your teammates in the situation,” said Leaf coach Craig Berube. “Sometimes, this can be where you have to throw your gloves down and deal with something. I think the mindset of being together, sticking together and helping each other is part of the reason (for 12 different players, picking up the combat professionals).

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In his 304th career game, the NHL’s first fight for Lorenz was in the second phase after a net free throw with coat forward Sean Kuraly. The two had enough of each other as they wandered through the crease and entered combat mode, while 6-foot-4, 216-pound Lorentz used his strength to play to his advantage.

Before the fight, Lorentz only took over two minors this season.

“It’s big,” goalkeeper Anthony Stolarz said. “You want to see it up and down the roster, especially from someone like him, he’s a big boy, so he’s just stood up for himself. He pays homage to Stevie.”

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In the third inning, Simon Benoit, who doesn’t mind canceling every once in a while, and the Jacket (Mathieu Olivier) is evaluated as a combat professional, but it’s not at the point of being a big punch.

No NHL team has fought with more than 12 different players this season.

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When the leaves fight, is it a situation or part of something bigger?

“Both,” said defenseman Morgan Rielly. “I don’t think you can be sure of it – I think it’s the situation, I think it’s the behavior in the group.

“We care for each other. I think when the time comes, you want to take care of your teammates, and we have a lot of people here who are willing to do that. It’s not a plan or anything else. It’s just going there and playing, playing hard together.

“It’s so nice (seeing Lorentz fight). This is an example of how our group feels, even in the third stage drama, we let us step in and take care of each other, which bodes well. Stevie did that, and it almost started, and it was a good boost for our group to watch him do it.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @ @koshtorontosun

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