Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube Signals Significant Offensive Changes

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The Maple Leafs are hoping a shake-up of their roster will end a three-game losing streak, a tall order against the undefeated Winnipeg Jets.

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When the Leafs took the ice at the Canada Life Center on Monday morning after a day off following their overtime setback in Boston, there were significant changes to the lines and power play unit.

Coach Craig Berube appeared to break up the second line in Monday night’s game, moving Max Pacioretty to left wing with center John Tavares and William Nylander, who has been meaningless in his last three starts.

Max Domi and Bobby McMann, who also struck out the last three batters, found themselves in the third unit with checker Pontus Holmberg on Monday. The strike also scratched striker Nick Robertson.

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Matthew Nice, who has been one of the most consistent players in terms of performance and conditioning, joins his first line mates Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in the group with the top players, with Nylander now in the second group. The team as a whole struggles with a 10% chance of success, 29th in the NHL.

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While Toronto’s top priority is ending a three-game losing streak (0-2-1) and secondly ending the Jets’ unbeaten October streak (8-0-0), the sidebar for the Leafs maintains its own piece of NHL history . .

The 1993–94 Leafs, led by the late Pat Burns, became the first team to win their first 10 games of the season, a record once broken by the Buffalo Sabers in the 2006–07 season.

To make their mark, the Jets will have to sweep the Leafs and then win two road games, at Detroit on Wednesday and at Columbus on Saturday.

The ’93-94 Leafs had one overtime win, Winnipeg had three so far, and the ’06-07 Sabers had three shootout wins.

Among the striking differences in the two Canadian clubs’ starts this month is their success on the power play. Winnipeg takes first place with 43.5%. Leading forward Cole Perfetti’s three power play goals are the same as the vaunted Leafs team as a whole.

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Toronto assistant coach Marc Savard is under scrutiny to try something new after days of predictions by Berube and players that things would eventually change without the need for big changes.

In Winnipeg’s latest win over Calgary, 5-3 on Saturday, the Jets missed the opening goal for the sixth time this year, but weren’t deterred. They also finished all four of Calgary’s power plays and scored a short-handed goal to make it 16 straight regular-season wins dating back to last season, the second-longest streak in league annals behind the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 17-win streak in 92-93.

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The win also came as Eric Comrie scored in Game 2 during a series with Connor Hellebuyck, who is likely to start Monday’s game, putting his .940 save percentage on the line, the best of any goalie with at least six starts. .

Anthony Stolarz is expected to start for the Leafs, a sign that he has cemented his No. 1 status over Joseph Wall for now.

The Leafs do have a 7-3 record against the Jets in their last 10 meetings, and in Winnipeg in particular they have recently gone 9-2-1, often in front of friendly crowds.

Winnipeg native Ryan Reeves enters the game in the fourth position for Toronto along with Steven Lorenz and David Kampf.

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