As Toronto Maple Leafs fans know, their team went into Florida on Friday night and came out with a hard-fought 2-0 win. After a horrible Game 5, coach Craig Berube didn’t reinvent the wheel heading into Game 6. However, he quietly reinforced the identity he wants this team to play with—and it showed. His lineup decisions weren’t dramatic, but they were telling.

Berube Made Two Key Changes for Game 6

After a disjointed and ineffective Game 5, Berube made two notable changes for the Maple Leafs. First, he reinserted Pontus Holmberg into the lineup. Second, he bumped him all the way to the second line. Holmberg had been used in that same role earlier in the series, particularly when the Maple Leafs were protecting leads. That’s not an accident. It clearly signals that Berube values Holmberg’s defensive presence and reliability in tight-checking situations.

Even if the second line didn’t generate much offensively, they executed their role within the system. Holmberg’s play was sound, and the team played far more structurally than they had in the previous game. That’s not just a coincidence—it’s coaching.

Max Pacioretty Has Become a Postseason Asset

More interesting still is how Berube is deploying players beyond the stars. Max Pacioretty has quietly become a playoff asset. Despite averaging only 11:50 of ice time and missing two games, he leads the team in hits (59), is fourth in scoring (8 points), and tied for the team lead in plus-minus at +3. He’s not playing big minutes—but his impact is real. Berube isn’t overplaying his veterans or star forwards; he’s trusting his depth and letting role players thrive.

Compare Game 6 to past playoff runs where top guys logged huge (and unsustainable) minutes and fourth-liners barely saw the ice. Berube’s approach spreads the workload, builds trust across the bench, and—critically—keeps the structure intact.

What Berube’s Changes Mean for the Maple Leafs

Berube’s Game 6 choices weren’t flashy, but they were foundational. He doubled down on defensive structure, rewarded trustworthiness, and used ice time to maintain balance, not just chase offense. That’s a subtle but significant shift from the star-centric approach of the past.

If Game 7 follows the same script, it won’t just be about talent. It’ll be about belief in a system, and a coach making it stick. If the Berube Maple Leafs play with the same attitude, they can move to the next round.

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