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

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.