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Toronto Maple Leafs look to stay connected and finally take the next step – TSN

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The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets held limited media availabilities on Sunday ahead of Game 5.

The Leafs had a 2-1 series lead against the Washington Capitals back in 2017. Toronto had the lead entering the third period of Game 7 in 2018 in Boston. And they had a 3-2 series lead on the Bruins last year. Those three golden opportunities turned into bitter losses and, hopefully for the Leafs, important lessons. Tonight, the young core has a chance to change the narrative and earn the franchise’s first series win since 2004.

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“We have more than enough guys that have been in these types of situations before as a group,” said coach Sheldon Keefe, “although it’s changed a lot over the years, there are enough guys who’ve been through this together that are looking to leave it all out there to take the next step.”

The Leafs showed great resilience to survive on Friday, but it will mean very little if they fall short in Game 5. And the coach and the captain aren’t shying away from just how significant tonight’s game is for the maturation of the group.

“The continued experience our young core gets in these opportunities and these moments to continue to learn about themselves, find ways to grow and get better and continue to try and rise to the occasion [is important],” said John Tavares. “Obviously, through times of adversity [you] look back and reflect on how you can be better and do a better job and I think we’ve had a lot of that this season.”

Keefe noted that the joy around the team after the Game 4 comeback was unlike anything he’d seen before with this group, but no one is getting carried away.

“A lot of yesterday was trying to turn the page and realize we’ll have a real test again today,” said Tavares, “and know they’ll be prepared and we’​ll have to be at our best and continue to find ways to get better.”

It’s been a series of swings with the Jackets scoring the first two goals, the Leafs countering with six straight, Columbus going on a seven-goal run before Toronto potted the last four. When it has been Toronto on the front foot, what is the team doing well?

“We just seem very connected,” said Tavares, who has two goals and an assist in the series. “You know, the level of execution is very high and that comes from all three zones. We’ve done a much better job, especially coming out of training camp with some of the emphasis we’ve put on things defensively, and that has led to a lot of other positives in our game and just being connected through all three zones.”

The ice has been choppy at times during this mid-summer tournament and the pressure is growing. Right now, it’s all about mental strength.

“That’s what it’s about,” agreed Keefe. “I mean, especially as you get to this point in the series where you really know your opponent, you know what the games are going to be like in terms of the structure and different pieces and it really just comes down to staying with it.”

—

Despite the devastating way Game 4 ended, Jackets coach John Tortorella doesn’t think there will be any emotional hangover for his group.

“We feel we have the momentum no matter what happened there,” the veteran bench boss said. “You know, momentum’s a funny thing, if you want to give it back to them you lose it, if you don’t want to give it to them you keep it on your side so that’s kind of a psychological thing. So, we’re good. We’re good and ready to play.”

The Jackets have reason to feel confident. They have outscored the high-octane Leafs 8-3 in five-on-five play in the series. In fact, they haven’t given up a five-on-five goal since Nick Robertson snuck a puck past Joonas Korpisalo in the second period of Game 3. So, that’s a stretch of 122 minutes and 46 seconds where the Leafs have been held in check at even strength.

“We’re not changing,” Tortorella said. “We thought we played a good game. You know, we pissed it away on a couple of bad plays and just within a couple of minutes, but we thought we played a good game. We’re going to go play the same way.”

Tortorella wasn’t willing to say, specifically, what his team has done well.

“Sorry, man,” he said. “I know I haven’t given you guys a bunch. I’ll talk to you guys about what I think about the series when the series is over, but not during.”

While most of the Leafs have gone through series-deciding games the last couple of years against Boston, this is the first such situation in the history of the Jackets franchise. ​During an interview with Jackets play-by-play voice Bob McElligott this afternoon, Tortorella revealed that the four guys with Game 7 experience on his roster addressed the group about what to expect.

“If you feel pressure now, you’re an idiot, because this is where you should try and enjoy yourself,” Tortorella told McElligott. “I’m anxious to see who’s tall and who shrinks. The playoffs are where your legacies are made and Game 7s it’s just doubled.”

—

Pulled in Game 3 and on the bench for all of Game 4, Korpisalo will start tonight for Columbus. Tortorella told McElligott that Elvis Merzlikins is hurt and won’t dress. Matiss Kivlenieks, who only has six games of NHL experience, will be the back-up goalie.

There was some good injury news for the Jackets on Sunday as defencemen Ryan Murray, who missed Game 4, and Zach Werenski, who left Game 4 in the third period, are both well enough to play.

“Our defensive depth is a big part of our team and happy that they’re back in,” said Seth Jones, who’s averaging a league high 30 minutes and 12 seconds of ice time in the playoffs. “They’re big pieces offensively and defensively and in all situations so they should play a key part in the win.”

—

Auston Matthews came through in the clutch picking up a pair of assists in that frantic finish to regulation on Friday night. The big centre then completed the crazy comeback with the overtime winner. But, for Keefe, the biggest thing that stands out about the 22-year-old’s playoff progression is how he’s been a factor on the defensive side of the puck. 

“His commitment defensively has really been off the charts,” Keefe gushed. “How competitive he’s been, his tracking, coming back to our end and blocking shots and getting in lanes and doing a lot of little things that don’t necessarily show up on the scoresheet or anything like that and he’s not doing it for recognition or anything, he’s just doing it because it’s what’s required to win. He’s really taken a massive step in that regard not just now, but it was really starting to come even before the pause in that regard and he’s carried it forward and, in fact, found another level.”

Matthews has seven blocked shots in the series (1.75 per game), which is tied for second on the team behind only defenceman Justin Holl. Matthews blocked 0.86 shots per game in the regular season.

Leafs Ice Chips: Matthews’ defensive play ‘off the charts’

Auston Matthews has had a tremendous series against the Blue Jackets so far, highlighted by his late game heroics in Game 4. His offensive production has been there, but as Mark Masters reports, his defensive play in the series is what has really caught Sheldon Keefe’s attention.

—

The Leafs got a psychological boost this morning as defencem​an Jake Muzzin is out of quarantine for the first time since going to the hospital following that scary injury on Tuesday night.

“Jake is doing well in the sense that he’s finally got a little bit of freedom,” Keefe said. “He left his hotel room this morning for the first time and he actually got out on the ice and got a little skate in this morning so that’s obviously very positive considering what he had been through. We’re happy to see that. We’re happy to see him around our team today and certainly we’re very fortunate that he’s recovering quickly in comparison to what we were fearing in terms of him being on the stretcher and all that sort of stuff. So, it’s great to see him around our team and moving around today.”

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Oilers send Kings back to the drawing board with dominant Game 1 win – Sportsnet.ca

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April 23, 2024

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Canucks start new playoff tradition and Dakota Joshua got first honour | Offside – Daily Hive

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9 hours ago

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April 22, 2024

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Good Co. Bars is your home for the playoffs! Enjoy $5 beers, prizes, a full game-day experience, and the best atmosphere to catch the game. Join us at any of our five locations.

The Vancouver Canucks revealed the debut of a new playoff tradition after last night’s exciting Game 1 comeback win against the Nashville Predators.

The team has created a win tracker in the shape of the Stanley Cup to commemorate their victories as they go through this year’s playoffs, the first non-COVID postseason for the Canucks since 2015.

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The Stanley Cup tracker has space for 16 pucks, one for each win needed on the journey to capture the sport’s ultimate trophy. The player of the game, after each win, gets to place a puck into an empty slot.

Winger Dakota Joshua earned the honour of inserting the first puck after a huge performance in Game 1.

“We’re going to start a little tradition here, 16 pucks, 16 wins,” explained captain Quinn Hughes after the team’s big Game 1 comeback victory. “[Could] give it to Demmer, he made some big saves, Lindy, way to get us going, but this is going to Playoff D!”

“One of 16, let’s f**king go,” Joshua said as he placed the puck into the tracker.

The bruising power forward deserved the honour as he scored twice, including the game-winner, and added an assist in the Game 1 victory. Thatcher Demko and Elias Lindholm also had big games, as Hughes alluded to during his mini-speech before picking the winger as the player of the game.

Joshua’s contributions helped the Canucks take a 1-0 series lead on a truly special night at Rogers Arena. The crowd was the loudest than it had been in years.

The team will have the chance to add another puck to the Stanley Cup tracker tomorrow night when they take on the Predators in Game 2. The puck drops at 7 pm PT.

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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins — Game #2 Preview, Projected Lineups & TV Broadcast Info – Maple Leafs Hot Stove

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10 hours ago

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April 22, 2024

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Following a frustrating Game 1 in which many familiar playoff issues reared their ugly heads, the Maple Leafs will need a cleaner and tighter performance in Game 2 if they’re to bring the series back to Toronto tied at 1-1 (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN).

The reactions to Game 1 on both sides of the spectrum have been… well, reactionary. On the one hand, the Leafs also got blown out in Game 1 a year ago against the Tampa Bay Lightning, yet rebounded to win the series in six games. On the other hand, the Leafs are now 2-7 in Game 1s in the Matthews era and just 1-5 since Sheldon Keefe took the reins as head coach. To state the obvious, a 0-1 series deficit makes a difficult task — one that the Leafs have only completely successfully once in the last 20 years — that much more difficult.

It’s also true that the five-on-five play was a lot closer than the final Game 1 scoreline reflects. Even if we removed the third period when score effects were in full swing at 4-0, Natural Stat Trick pegged the 5v5 expected goals at 2.03-1.88 in favor of Toronto, and shot attempts were 29-28 Bruins over the opening 40.

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The Leafs gave the Bruins five power-play opportunities, and it wasn’t only a case of some dodgy officiating. The Leafs took some sloppy penalties, including one from each member of the top line, with Tyler Bertuzzi and Auston Matthews taking high-sticking calls in front of the Bruins’ net. They also were off to a positive start to the game before giving up a 2-on-1 goal, and on the PK, Jake DeBrusk’s goal was far too easy. Those are the types of looks the Bruins simply did not afford the Leafs over the course of the game.

The other big storyline continues to be the Leafs’ infamous streak of scoring two goals per game in the playoffs (now at eight games). Some of the challenges were due to Jeremy Swayman, and some were Toronto’s offensive approach in the game. The (possibly) good news is that one of the team’s best offensive weapons was on the ice this morning and is not ruled out for tonight.

William Nylander was seen at the Leafs’ optional skate Sunday morning with the Leafs’ projected scratches and again participated in the morning skate on Monday. With all due respect to Nick Robertson, he’s nowhere near the calibre of the play-driving threat Nylander is both at five-on-five and on the power play. On paper, a new-look third line of Järnkrok-Holmberg-Nylander could give the Bruins some matchup headaches after Game 1 played out in a fairly straightforward manner for Jim Montgomery.

As was the case in Game 1, with Keefe staying mum in the media, we won’t know for sure about Nylander until close to puck drop.

Maple Leafs’ Keys to Game 2

via Anthony Petrielli

– The Bruins have scored first in all five games this season, and the Leafs have not led a single game at any point. The first goal would provide Toronto with some confidence and allow them to settle down.

– The Leafs need to play more north/south and attack the net. There was too much east-west in Game 1.

– There was a lot of focus on the PK, the defense, and the goaltending after Game 1, all of which are real issues, but the Leafs have eight goals in five games vs. Boston this season. Cut it any way you want, but the Leafs are not going to win consistently with that poor of an offensive output. They need to get inside on Boston, crash the net, shoot more, and win battles in front of the net.

–  The Leafs’ penalty kill needs to do a better job of pressuring. They can’t allow a player like Jake DeBrusk to curl up top with the puck, go downhill, and shoot untouched. That’s far too easy.

– The Leafs need to limit time in the box and not get carried away physically or with the overall emotions of the game.

–  Put simply, the Leafs need some saves and for their stars to be stars. The Bruins’ top players have outplayed the Leafs’ in all five games so far this year. In Game 1, Boston got away with matching Brandon Carlo vs. Auston Matthews. It is very difficult for any team in the league to win when its best players don’t deliver.

Game Day Quotes

Jim Montgomery on his starting goalie for Game 2:

I don’t like keeping you guys in the dark. Do any of you play Wordle? The starting goalie tonight has two vowels in his first and last name.

Montgomery on why he keeps his goalie decision tight to his chest:

I don’t know why we would divulge information. If you are preparing for a game, there are parts of the goaltender that are a part of your pre-scout. That is an advantage for us, right? We don’t know who is starting.

I don’t tell my wife. I am not telling [the media].

Montgomery on what he is hoping to repeat about the team’s Game 1 performance:

I liked our physicality. That has to be repeated. I liked how we got over top of people. We didn’t give up too much off the rush. That is really important against such an electric offensive team.

Sheldon Keefe on the expectation for his team in Game 2:

I expect our team to come out and play hard, play well, and play — in a lot of ways — like we did the other night. Just make a few fewer mistakes and finish a few of our chances. We don’t have to change much more than that. Quite honestly, we liked a lot of things about our game. We just have to get back to it.

Keefe on shifting Tyler Bertuzzi onto PP1:

Bert is good around the net. It gives you a second guy similar to John in the sense that he can hound the puck and be good around the net. That is really it.

Keefe on the message to Max Domi after his slashing penalty in Game 1:

It is playoff hockey. I don’t even have to talk to Max about these things. He has been through it a lot. It is all part of the intensity. I don’t need Max to change anything about who he is and how he plays.

He is an important guy for us. I love the intensity he brought the other night. He got caught on a penalty. Their guy is probably going to give the same slash 10 times over the rest of the series. We’ll see if he gets called on it.

I love Max’s intensity.

Keefe on the group of six defensemen he’s started the series with, with TJ Brodie on the outside looking in:

We looked at how the season has gone, how the group has come together, how the pairs fit, the opponent, and the type of matchups and intensity you expect early in the series. Those are the guys we are going with.

Head-to-Head (Regular Season) Stats: Maple Leafs vs. Bruins

In the regular-season statistics, the Leafs hold the advantage over the Bruins in five out of five offensive categories, but the Bruins hold the advantage in three out of five defensive categories.

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines*

Forwards
#59 Tyler Bertuzzi – #34 Auston Matthews – #11 Max Domi
#23 Matthew Knies – #91 John Tavares – #16 Mitch Marner
#89 Nick Robertson – #29 Pontus Holmberg – #19 Calle Jarnkrok
#24 Connor Dewar – #64 David Kampf – #75 Ryan Reaves

Defensemen
#44 Morgan Rielly – #46 Ilya Lyubushkin
#2 Simon Benoit – #22 Jake McCabe
#20 Joel Edmundson – #37 Timothy Liljegren

Goaltenders
Starter: #35 Ilya Samsonov
#60 Joseph Woll

Extras: TJ Brodie, Mark Giordano, Conor Timmins, Noah Gregor, Martin Jones, Cade Webber
Injured: Bobby McMann, William Nylander

Boston Bruins Projected Lines*

Forwards
#43 Danton Heinen – #18 Pavel Zacha – #88 David Pastrnak
#63 Brad Marchand – #13 Charlie Coyle – #74 Jake DeBrusk
#94 Jakub Lauko – #39 Morgan Geeke – #11 Trent Frederic
#19 John Beecher – #70 Jesper Boqvist – #61 Patrick Maroon

Defensemen
#27 Hampus Lindholm – #73 Charlie McAvoy
#48 Matt Grzelcyk – #25 Brandon Carlo
#22 Kevin Shattenkirk – #52 Andrew Peeke

Goaltenders
Starter: #35 Linus Ullmark
#1 Jeremy Swayman

Extras: James van Riemsdyk, Parker Wotherspoon, Mason Lohrei
Injured/Out: Justin Brazeau, Milan Lucic, Derek Forbort

*Note: At playoff time, with neither coach forthcoming on lineup decisions or injury situations, the final lineups won’t be known until close to puck drop.

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