RICK VAIVE: Maple Leafs chose the path of greatest resistance in Game 5

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The Toronto Sun welcomes former Toronto captain and three-time 50-goal winger Rick Vaive to our coverage of the 2024 Maple Leafs playoffs. Rick will analyze each game of the Toronto-Boston series and today he will review Game 5.

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It can go one of two ways in a life-or-death situation, as the Leafs found themselves in Game 5, a noisy court without their best player.

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You either focus on helping the guy next to you or you go home.

That’s what I liked about the Leafs Tuesday in Boston, how they were coming back as a unit, especially the forwards. If you’ve seen them in the regular season and in the first part of this series, when their defense gets the puck, one or two guys are prowling around the ice looking for a stretch pass.

This game was very different, much more disciplined and structured than the first four. The forwards were helping the defense and Boston didn’t have the excellent opportunities it had had. Just as vital, the Bruins only had one power play.

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I give a lot of credit to what Max Domi did at center. Going 12-2 on faceoffs when you haven’t played there in a while is tough in a game of this importance. There’s a way to win ’em, as John Tavares has shown everyone over the years, and while you don’t think of Max in that role, he has a somewhat stocky build like his father and maybe that will help him go further. down to the ice.

Matchups are also a team effort with the wingers and defense, so going 62% like they did in an away game without having a final line change is a great sign.

Matthew Knies scored a nice goal to win, but that said, they’re not going to sit Auston Matthews, the best scorer on the planet, if there’s any way for Auston to be ready for Game 6.

I talked about this with Mike Wilson on our podcast before the game, that the guy who really had to come through on Tuesday was Joseph Woll. I told him that he couldn’t allow more than two goals and he was one better than me.

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That’s not to say Jeremy Swayman was bad for Boston, making over 30 saves. But what a place to put a young man, as it was in last season’s playoffs for Woll against Florida. There is something very calm and collected about his demeanor and position. He wasn’t bothered by the Bruins’ Trent Frederic’s only goal, a bad rebound from someone on his own team.

Woll might remind Leaf fans of Ken Wregget, our goalie in the 1980s, who had the same height and calm nature. One thing I can tell you about Ken: he sure didn’t play the piano or read as many important books as Woll does. But I’ve heard that’s what seems to relax Joseph and help him prepare for a game. More power to him!

-Vaive captained the Leafs for four years in the early 1980s, played 16 NHL and WHA seasons, is the author of Catch 22, My Battles in Hockey and Life, and can be heard on the Squid podcast and The Ultimate Leafs Fan with Mike. Wilson and special guests.

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