Auston Matthews, core back up their words as Maple Leafs advance
Article content
Never in doubt.
On the outside, yes, there was plenty of doubt in the Maple Leafs after they lost two consecutive games against the Ottawa Senators, results that allowed the Sens to climb back into the first-round series in the Battle of Ontario.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Auston Matthews, core back up their words as Maple Leafs advance Back to video
In the Leafs dressing room, however, the confidence didn’t falter.
The same could said for what coach Craig Berube, whose calm, seen-it-all demeanour has been the perfect guide for this group, was thinking behind the bench.
The Leafs put substance behind their words on Thursday night, beating the Senators 4-2 in Game 6 at the Canadian Tire Centre to send their provincial rivals home for the summer.
If you need to be reminded, and we now don’t, that’s five times the Leafs and Senators have met in the playoffs and five times the Leafs have won.
Our takeaways from the Leafs’ victory in Ottawa, one that sends them to the second round against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers:
CORE COMES THROUGH
William Nylander scored two goals and had an assist.
Captain Auston Matthews opened the scoring and won 16 of his 22 faceoffs.
Mitch Marner had an assist and was crucial on the penalty kill as the Leafs killed off two minors. Marner recorded five hits, second among Leafs.
John Tavares was solid in nearly 18 minutes of work and as usual wound up on the right side of the ledger in faceoffs, winning five of his eight draws.
The leaders did what they are supposed to do in the playoffs: They led. They made a difference.
For coach Berube, and we would agree, it started with Matthews.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“Overall, I thought it was a solid game by everybody,” Berube told media in Ottawa. “I think our captain led the way.
“Work ethic and competitiveness, the whole game. High-end. I didn’t see him lose too many draws. Starts there. Heavy, physical work. Competing. Touched all areas of the game for us in a good way.”
Berube commented on the Leafs’ business-like approach in the past couple of days and Matthews, certainly, was at the forefront.
The group shrugged off any pressure. The outside noise will ramp up again in the days leading up to the second round, but good or bad, the Leafs now seem to able to shut it out.
“All that stuff on the outside, it’s in one ear out the other,” Matthews said to media in Ottawa. “It’s all about the guys in the room. The focus is going to continue to be on all 20, 25, guys who are in our room, just continuing to do what we can for one another, just continuing to push.”
The manner in which the Leafs won demonstrated maturity.
Less than two minutes after Sens veteran David Perron scored to tie the game 2-2 at 12:40 of the third, Max Pacioretty scored the winner through a screen after some fine work by Max Domi and Pontus Holmberg deep in the offensive zone.
Not only did the Leafs not sag, the possibility of that happening didn’t enter their minds. And there was no sag during the final Sens push, as Nylander scored into an empty net with 19 seconds left.
“The bench was good (after the Perron goal),” Berube said. “We didn’t panic, it was, ‘Guys, let’s go get it right now.’ That’s what I heard on the bench.
“We came out and got on our toes again, and we’re playing, which is a good mindset to have. We talked before the game, focus on the next shift. Some things bad happen out there, whatever. Just focus on the next shift. Let’s go.”
Done.
MAX-ING OUT
It was appropriate that given all he has endured in the past several seasons, recovering from numerous injuries, that 36-year-old Pacioretty scored the series winner.
“It meant a lot, just meant a lot,” Pacorietty told Sportsnet. “Missing almost three months, there a lot of resources, a lot of ups and downs mentally. Coaches did a good job of easing me into the series. Given the role of my age, I can’t just jump in and play a ton of minutes. So it’s a credit to everyone around me.”
It was Pacioretty’s 26th goal in 82 Stanley Cup playoff games. There’s no doubt he will benefit from some rest before the Panthers series, as will all of his teammates, and he has locked down his spot in the lineup after he was scratched for the first two games against Ottawa.
Despite not playing in all six games, Pacioretty leads the Leafs with 23 hits.
“It’s huge,” Matthews said of watching Pacorietty score. “He played great. The ups and downs that he has been through in the last couple years and putting himself in this position, battling back from a couple injures this year, he scores the series clinching goal.
“I love playing with him. It’s been awesome getting to know him. He’s a big part of our room.”
After starting the game on a line with Tavares and Nylander, Pacioretty was switched with Bobby McMann. Pacioretty just kept playing his role.
We didn’t expect much from Pacioretty considering he had not played since early February, and were not sure he would even get in the series. No issue in acknowledging he has proven us wrong.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
PANTHERS UP NEXT
The Leafs finished 10 points ahead of the Panthers in the regular season. That won’t matter once Game 1 gets underway, date and time to be determined.
It’s going to be crucial for the Leafs win at least one of the first two games at home before the series heads south.
Given the way the Panthers flicked off the Tampa Bay Lightning, and given the Panthers’ recent playoff history, they probably should be seen as the favourite going into Round 2.
The Leafs will be ready.
“It’s going to be another hard series,” Matthews said. “They’re defending champs, (have gone to) back-to-back Cup finals.
“We definitely have to reset and do our homework and rest up. Do what we can, go in there with confidence.”
As we said off the top, the Leafs’ confidence didn’t falter after the Sens fought back in the series. It’s not just talk now. The Leafs know that they are capable.
X: @koshtorontosun
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.