Maple Leafs seek to 'go out and enjoy it' as they attempt to oust Sens
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Closing time is here again for the Maple Leafs.
For a change, they would love to wander off into the night on Tuesday with the knowledge of having eliminated the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Maple Leafs seek to 'go out and enjoy it' as they attempt to oust Sens Back to video
It certainly would be preferable to the alternative: Heading back to Ottawa for Game 6 on Thursday with momentum having been firmly grasped by the Senators in the Battle of Ontario.
In the era headed by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly, the Leafs have a record of 1-12 in elimination games. One difference this time is that they were the favourites going into the best-of-seven series against Ottawa, and despite losing in Game 4 on Saturday after building a 3-0 series lead, remain in control.
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What, if anything, has to change at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday from the way the Leafs played in the Game 4 overtime loss?
“I don’t think a whole lot,” coach Craig Berube said after the team practised on Monday at the Ford Performance Centre. “It’s there. I think we have to keep doing a lot of the same things we’re doing.
“We can try to generate more. We have to match the desperation level. It’s going to be a hard game. They’re a good team. I’ve said it all along, that’s a good hockey team. We’ll be ready to go.”
There was nothing evident in the way the Leafs got to work on Monday, after a full day off on Sunday, that concern might be nipping at their heels after failing to put the Senators away 48 hours earlier. It was another brisk practice, and in what has been a hallmark under Berube, it had an all-business attitude to it.
Much has been made about the Sens’ five-on-five play in the series, but the Leafs have been more productive when both teams have five skaters on the ice. Ottawa’s 242-172 lead in shot attempts loses some lustre when it’s mentioned that shots on goal are 77-75 for Ottawa and goals are 10-5 in the Leafs’ favour. Toronto has an edge on special teams as well, going 5-for-13 on the power play. Ottawa is 3-for-11.
We’re curious to see what impact the goaltending will have in the game on Tuesday. Anthony Stolarz is on the verge of starting his fifth game in a row for the first time this season, and Linus Ullmark was better than his counterpart in Game 4.
A Toronto victory would mark the first time since 2004 that the Leafs won a series on home ice. Twenty-one years ago on April 20, the Leafs beat the Sens 4-1 in Game 7 of the first round in Toronto.
“I’m excited to hear it,” Marner said about the atmosphere in the rink on Tuesday. “Should be a lot of fun. The building has been rocking the first two games. We have to make sure we embrace the moment and be ready for it.”
Max Domi rallied around the idea for increased rallying cries from Leafs Nation.
“We need that support, we need that energy they bring,” Domi said. “We feel it. They’re a big part of our game. They need more from us, we need more from them. Got to keep building as a group and that includes everyone at home watching too.”
And how about those “Marner’s leaving!” chants in Ottawa, Mitch?
“You do hear it, but at the same time, you’re focused on just playing hockey,” Marner said. “You’re not really focused on what’s going on, and once you’re on the ice, you don’t hear anything. You’re just trying to figure out plays and talking to one another and seeing what you can do to try to capitalize on their mistakes.”
On Tuesday night, the only focus for the Leafs will be to send the Senators packing for the summer. The Leafs would get several days of rest as the clash between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning plays out.
Twice in his career, Tavares has scored an overtime goal to win a series for his team. He did it in Tampa Bay in Game 6 of the first round two years ago, and in 2016 when he was with the New York Islanders, Tavares scored in double overtime of Game 6 of the first round versus the Panthers.
“It’s (about) the whole opportunity,” Tavares said. “Getting to compete in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and having the opportunity to continue to pursue that goal and that dream … anytime you have a chance to move on, that’s what it comes down to.
“You want to go out there and try to make a difference, whether that’s doing something defensively, making a play that can lead to a goal or putting it in the back of the net yourself.
“We know that there’s more to give, and areas to clean up and be better and just be aggressive.
“Go out there and enjoy it. Have some fun with the opportunity to close it out.”
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