Leafs Tread the Line Between Fire and Focus Amid Greig Antics
Man, if you’re watching the Leafs-Sens playoff series right now, you already know it’s spicy—and Ridly Greig is right at the center of that chaos. Let me tell you, Sunday’s Game 1 had it all: hits, goals, a little controversy, and a whole lot of mind games.
Greig, that classic playoff agitator, cross-checked John Tavares square in the head—got called for a major at first, but after review? Just a minor. You could feel the frustration ripple through the Leafs bench. Even Matthew Knies said, “He got him pretty good in the head.” And coach Craig Berube? He didn’t hide it. He brushed off questions postgame with a sarcastic “Call the league.” But despite the initial anger, there’s one big message coming out of the Leafs locker room: discipline.
Berube’s been drilling it in. Sure, Greig’s annoying—Knies actually said, “It’s definitely annoying.” But that’s playoff hockey. You can’t bite every time the bait gets tossed your way. The Sens led the league in drawn penalties this season, and Greig? He’s one of their best at doing just that. You retaliate, and suddenly you're the one in the box. The Leafs know that game. They’ve lived it. Rielly summed it up best: “Our group just has to keep our focus on playing our brand of hockey.”
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Still, it’s hard to stay cool when a guy slides into your goalie like Greig did to Anthony Stolarz in the third. Berube’s not buying the “accidental” angle, and honestly, watching the replay—it didn’t look innocent. But Stolarz, a total pro, brushed it off. “He just blew a tire,” he said, like it was no big deal, even though he clearly felt it. Credit to him—he stood tall, stopped 31 of 33 shots, and picked up his first playoff win. The guy looked locked in.
Now, on the offensive side, the Leafs' power play was lethal. Three goals, all right off faceoffs. Mitch Marner’s running that QB spot like he was born for it—delivering pucks, finding sticks, manipulating defenders. Auston Matthews was glowing about him. “He makes it look easy,” he said, and yeah, he really does. Marner assisted on two of those goals, including one Knies tipped in during a third-period surge.
That Knies kid, by the way, is something else. Led the team in ice time. Blocked shots. Took hits. Scored. He’s 22 and already playing like a seasoned vet. Berube admits he probably played him a bit too much, but when a guy’s rolling, you let him ride.
Even with the 6–2 win, the Leafs aren’t satisfied. They want more control in the defensive zone, better puck movement, and tighter forechecking. Matthews and Rielly both said it—the game lost rhythm with all the penalties, and they know they can sharpen things up.
But make no mistake, this series is going to be a grind. Greig’s not going anywhere, and neither is the drama. The Leafs just have to keep their heads, play their game, and let their skill speak louder than the chirping. Because in playoff hockey, the team that stays focused usually ends up on top.
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