Keefe backs Holl amid struggles vs. Bolts: 'He's not out there by himself'

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been under siege whenever defenseman Justin Holl has been on the ice during their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but head coach Sheldon Keefe stood by his beleaguered blue-liner after Game 5.

"He's not out there by himself in those situations when he's getting scored on," Keefe said postgame, per Sportsnet.

Holl has been on the ice for 14 of the Bolts' 20 goals through five games - the most of any Maple Leafs player in a single playoff series over the last 10 years, according to Sportsnet Stats. No other Maple Leaf has been out for more than nine this spring.

Holl and partner Mark Giordano were on the ice for three goals against in Thursday's 4-2 Game 5, in which Toronto squandered its first chance to eliminate the Lightning.

Most notably, Holl - who's a league-worst minus-seven in these playoffs - turned around while Mikey Eyssimont rushed down the wing in the Leafs' zone, allowing the Lightning forward to gain more space before scoring from a sharp angle to make it 2-1.

"We need those guys to be better," Keefe conceded. "They were involved in the goals for tonight. … At the same time, they've also done a good job for us at different times in this series."

Holl ranks second on the Maple Leafs in shorthanded ice time per game (3:28) this postseason. The Lightning have scored five power-play goals in 19 opportunities so far.

If Keefe opts to switch up his back end in Game 6, he does have a fresh option in 23-year-old Timothy Liljegren, who has yet to see any action in these playoffs. Liljegren put up 18 points and was plus-24 in 67 regular-season contests in 2022-23.

Toronto's next chance to advance to the second round for the first time since 2004 will come Saturday in Tampa Bay.