“I thought it was appropriate.”

Sheldon Keefe spoke to the media following the Maple Leafs' 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, which dropped the team's record to 26-16-8.

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On how he reacts to defeat:

We will have a rest tomorrow and prepare for the next one.

Where the game was from the team:

I thought we gave up too much in transition. That's what they do very well – better than anyone in the NHL. We ate it.

We're two minutes into a very clean first period on the road. It was a completely scrappy play that led to their first goal late in the first period. These were our best people.

In the last two minutes of the first period, I thought our best guys let us down there. It changes the tempo of the game. Ultimately, it becomes a one-target difference.

I wish I could take that moment back, but there were others in it. At the same time, we missed a lot of opportunities to score more goals than we did tonight. We didn't. We win the game.

In Morgan Rielly's review after Ridley Greig's free-net shot:

I thought it was appropriate.

RIELLI TAKES THE POINT AFTER A FREE TAOR GOAL, COURTESY OF JOE BOWEN AND JIM RALPH. #Leaves are forever @Bonsie1951 @Jim_Ralph

10.02.2024 pic.twitter.com/jY6ZRr0ht7

— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) February 11, 2024

At the level of concern about potential additional discipline for Rielly:

I'm sure they'll look at it, yes.

Did the late first-period play lead to simmering frustration for Rielly:

No, I think he responded to the performance. Their player has the right to do whatever he wants at that moment. Our players have the right to respond. This is the emotions of the game. That's how it goes.

Why this was Rielly's correct reaction:

This is very obvious.

Referee of the game:

I hate that we got a penalty shot with six minutes left in the game and we don't have any power plays. This is difficult. I thought the referees let a lot go both ways.