Teammates Max Domi and Brandon Carlo Involved in Heated Exchange at Leafs Practice

The Toronto Maple Leafs have just 7 games remaining in their 2024-25 regular season, and currently hold a 3-point lead in the Atlantic Division over the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have an equal number of games remaining.

As is the case with all teams currently jockeying for position ahead of the playoffs, the Maple Leafs, including their star players, have begun to show a lot more emotion and urgency of late. Unfortunately, this has led to tensions boiling over in practice on Friday.

According to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby, Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo delivered a forceful shove to teammate Max Domi at Leafs practice, sending Domi hard into the boards behind the net, causing a bit of a retaliatory reaction from Domi.

Hornby also reported that Carlo, who recently expressed his excitement to be playing next to new D partner Morgan Rielly, approached Domi following the play to ensure that his teammate was okay, showing some remorse for the shove.

This increased intensity at practice is a good sign that the Leafs are preparing for the playoffs the way they should be -- playing hard and taking no prisoners.

As it stands, if the playoffs began today, the Leafs would draw the Ottawa Senators in Round 1. If that occurs, that series could very well end up being a bloodbath.

If the Lightning or Panthers were to pass the Leafs over the final 7 games of the season, it would set up a Round 1 matchup between Tampa Bay and Toronto or Florida and Toronto. There is no love lost between any of these teams either.

As for Carlo, he appears ready, willing and able to do whatever the Leafs require of him in order to win. This includes increasing his physical play, and even dropping the gloves when necessary, as he had done recently with Jeff Malott of the LA Kings.

While Carlo isn't much of a fighter, it's nice to see that he's willing to lay it all on the line to win. The Leafs have lacked that mentality in years past, so it's nice to see them taking on more of that mindset this season under Craig Berube.