Maple Leafs seek a power-play surge in Game 2 against Florida Panthers

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The Maple Leafs want to turn the power back on in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers.

The Leafs managed to win Game 1, scoring five goals in the process, despite failing to score on five power plays.

If special teams can be the tipping point in a Stanley Cup playoff series, the Leafs know they can’t continue to post zeroes with a man advantage.

For coach Craig Berube, getting shots to fall on the power play against an enthusiastic Panthers penalty kill isn’t rocket science. The Leafs had seven shots on goal in Game 1 when they were a man up.

“It’s about doing things quickly and passing the puck quickly, moving it and getting it to the net,” Berube said on Tuesday. “If you think you’re going to come up with other ideas, it’s not going to work.

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“You have an aggressive PK like that, you have to move the puck quick and you have to shoot.

“When there are scrums, you have to attack off of them because they’re out of position. And we did. We did a few things like that. We had some good looks, but it didn’t go in. We’ll be better.”

Berube got away from the five-forward power play in the third period of Game 1, using defenceman Morgan Rielly on the top unit instead of forward Matthew Knies.

“You’re up by a goal and that’s always been in the plan,” Berube said. “It’s all a feel thing.”

Florida went 1-for-3 on the power play in Game 1.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Marlies announced that they have signed London Knights forward Landon Sim to a one-year American Hockey League contract for the 2025-26 season.

Sim, 20, has 11 points in 12 playoff games for the Knights, who meet the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League final, starting with Game 1 on Thursday in London.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun