Maple Leafs News and Rumors: Bertuzzi, Matthews, Domi and Giordano – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Tuesday night, ending the Devils' playoff aspirations. Auston Matthews scored his 66th league goal, extending his goal streak to six games and his point streak to twelve games.

Related: Matthews Nets 66th goal, highest salary in era

At the beginning of the competition, the Maple Leafs played as if they had punched their way to the playoffs; however, they capitalized on the momentum with less than a minute left to put the game behind. Defenseman Mark Giordano scored nine seconds after forward Tyler Bertuzzi late in the second period to give Toronto the win.

Point 1: 3 Reasons Maple Leaves Beat Devils

The Maple Leafs defeated the Devils for three reasons. First, Matthews continued to score. His 66th goal provided a crucial cushion to put the game out of reach for New Jersey in the final period.

Second, the team got deep scoring from Giordano and Bertuzzi. However, with Bertuzzi's 21st goal (to go along with 21 assists), he is no longer just a scorer. Nick Robertson also scored his team's first goal.

Finally, the team played well defensively throughout the game. Despite some setbacks, the team gave up two goals. They finally gave Joseph Wall some goals to play with and that was enough. The Maple Leafs stifled the Devils' offensive opportunities to maintain their lead throughout the game.

Point 2: Tyler Bertuzzi is thriving with Auston Matthews

Bertuzzi was outstanding with two goals and one assist. His partnership with Mathews and Max Domi has become a trio that the Maple Leafs seem poised to carry into the postseason. This dynamic line boosted Toronto's offensive output. It also allowed the team to spread its star power across three lines, creating a balanced and tight lineup.

Related: Former Maple Leafs quarterback Jake Gardiner: Where is he now?

Bertuzzi's contributions improved significantly throughout the season. This is Bertuzzi's third season with 21 goals. He achieved this figure in 2018-19 and 2019-20. His best season was 2021-22, when he reached 30 goals.

The chemistry between Bertuzzi, Matthews and Domi bodes well for the team's postseason potential. This allowed the Maple Leafs to move Mitch Marner to play with John Tavares, a winning combination in recent seasons.

Point 3: Impressive 2 assist performance by Max Domi

Max Domi is not getting enough credit as a starter in 2023-24. Last night, he had two assists for the team's offense. He worked throughout the game to set up Mathews on his way to 70 goals; Regardless, he has shown strong playmaking ability this season.

Domi's partnership in the front line was dynamic. The trio had three goals and four assists last night. Like Bertuzzi, Domi's season totals have snowballed throughout the campaign. He now has 45 points, including 36 assists. Even more coincidentally, almost all of Domi's points came at even strength. His ability to attack by facilitating puck opportunities shows his value to the team.

Point 4: Jake McCabe had 2 assists on the night

In Monday's game, Jake McCabe hit the game-winner in overtime. He played an important offensive role last night, recording two assists and has three points (one goal and two assists) in his last two games. It was a career-best season for the strong defender. He also had 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 71 games.

McCabe's ability to support the offense while maintaining defensive consistency has been key to Toronto's success this season. Again, with the focus on the postseason, his end product will be crucial in bolstering the team's defensive presence and contributing to their postseason potential.

Point 5: When he plays, expect Nick Robertson to score

Nick Robertson knows one thing very well. He scored his 13th goal of the season against the Devils. While he's looked a healthy scratch like he's been playing often lately, when he's played, he's had three goals and an assist and just six shots on goal in his last four games.

Related: Nick Robertson's rise: Third-string success for Maple Leafs future

With 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games, Robertson's output is roughly 20 goals and 40 points over an entire 82-game season. Gives him more ice time and a more consistent role in the 2023-24 lineup. He has shown growth and development as a young player.

Robertson may not have full-game control, but he has enough talent to contribute solid production as a middle-six forward to keep him in the lineup. He may not start the first game of the playoffs, but fans should expect him to get a chance to showcase his skills. He could emerge as a reliable scoring threat, adding depth and versatility to the lineup.

What's next for the Maple Leafs?

As the regular season closes, Maple Leafs fans will need to keep an eye on the team as they balance consistency and playoff-like intensity. The team showed its intent to end the season on a high note with a playoff performance that would turn out to be an all-around effort on offense and defense.

It will be interesting to see how the team deploys the three goaltenders over the last few games. Can they rest key players other than Matthews, who is on pace to score 70 goals, or will they go second in the Atlantic Division?