The Maple Leafs have been getting production from the back end to open the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Morgan Rielly is leading the way.

Rielly scored in both games in Toronto, and with the series shifting to Ottawa, the Maple Leafs will need much of the same from the longest-tenured Maple Leaf. He had an up-and-down season, finishing the year with 41 points, appearing in all 82 games, and entering the playoffs on a 24-game goalless streak. That’s all forgotten. He’s taken a decent amount of heat for the inconsistencies within his game that come with his annual cap hit of $7.5 million, but it seems like he’s developed a knack for replacing the heat with a positive spotlight once the playoffs roll around. He had four goals and 12 points in 11 games in 2022-23 and scored a number of clutch goals during the Leafs’ slightly longer-than-usual playoff run, including the overtime winner in Game 3.

Not only is Rielly finding the back of the net, but he’s also been joining the rush more, looking to get engaged and create offence. That’s one of the frustrating parts about his game: when he’s off, it normally looks like he’s holding back, not as eager to get involved. Against the Senators through two games of the postseason, Rielly’s putting pucks on net, he hasn’t been afraid to lead the rush, and even on a couple of occasions, was looked off by Brandon Carlo with an open passing lane. Carlo and Rielly continue to work on their chemistry, with just 22 games together under their belts, but the two have made huge strides of late. An interesting tidbit is that Rielly’s the only Maple Leaf yet to record a hit in the series. If he keeps scoring goals, nobody will notice.

One big change for Toronto this season has been their depth on defence. Rielly doesn’t have to carry the load like we’ve seen at times throughout his career; he’s surrounded by the most talent the team’s had on the blueline in a very long time. Leafs’ head coach Craig Berube feels comfortable with his group as a six-man unit:

As for ‘Playoff Rielly’, he’s scored 13 goals, 42 points in 59 games, and 33 of his points have come at even strength. Rielly’s 13th playoff goal ties him with Ian Turnbull for the most by Maple Leafs defencemen in franchise history.

Rielly’s strong play hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been impressed with Rielly’s complete package so far through two postseason games, “He’s a good player, he skates well, and when you shoot, and you can follow up the rushes, and stuff like that good things can happen,” said Ekman-Larsson during a media scrum following Wednesday’s practice. “And, I think it starts with the d-zone. He’s been defending very well lately, I think that comes into play. He’s an unbelievable player.”

“It’s fun to see him chip in some goals,” continued OEL. “He’s a playoff guy.”

Playoff Reilly is back, he’s better than ever, and Leafs Nation is excited to welcome him back with open arms.