Amazingly on Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs were just one win away from advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004. This restraint, the team’s fans knew all too well , but players say they are determined to change the wind once and for all.
The Torontonians ’setbacks in the playoffs are well known. No need to trace the thread of their last five appearances in the first round to prove it. The painful memory of their departure from seven games at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens last summer is enough as an example, some will say. Toronto missed three chances to win the series before finally giving up.
We had a few opportunities last year. We didn’t do the work. We know thisadmitted veteran Jason Spezza, Wednesday, at the Maple Leafs training complex.
We already have two chances to win our series [contre Tampa], but most of all, we have to play with urgency, just like we experienced last game and that allows us to come back from behind. This feeling should follow us to Tampa.
The feeling of urgency, also called killer instinct of the Toronto management team, is often pointed out as the thing lacking in previous editions of Maple Leafs and explains their inability to win a series.
As proof, over the past four years, the Maple Leafs have had seven chances to end a series. Each time, they conceded defeat, and four times in the ultimate matches.
We need to learn from our mistakes. That’s what we’re trying to do as a band here, but we’re also a different band [de l’an dernier], Spezza recalled. Men are at different points in their careers. They have matured. We also have new players. So yes, the players present have learned lessons, but we’re also a new version of Toronto Maple Leafs and we’re trying to move forward.
The Torontonians showed character in Game 5 of their series against the Lightning. Left at 0-2, they scored three goals, then added another after Tampa Bay tied the game at 3-3 for an irritating victory.
We have great fans, diehards, and I’m sure it means a lot to them if we win this series and we believe, we also want to win and we will do everything we can to make it possible.said Michael Bunting.
I think we need to start off with a good start, and not try to come back from behind some goal. I think we did well yesterday (Tuesday), but we will need the same sense of urgency, make it simple and stick to our game plan. [pour gagner] in TampaHe added.
To be the best, the Maple Leafs clearly need to beat the best, the two -time defending Stanley Cup champions, on Thursday, and on their ice at that time. It won’t be an easy task, especially since the Lightning haven’t experienced a back-to-back playoff loss since the spring of 2019.
We believe we have the right group of players and all good things are happening to us to be confident and play well. This does not make the challenge any easier. We know what to expect going to Tampasaid head coach Sheldon Keefe.
” For us, it was a real challenge to finish the playoffs, but we believe our team worked throughout the season to get there and they have the right attitude to face this kind of challenge. “
Last night’s game, in terms of perseverance, increasing your level of play in big moments and not neglecting yourself, I think it set the stage for us to have the confidence to finish the job.
Game 6 of the series between Maple Leafs and Lightning will take place at 7:30 pm at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
Should Toronto ever have a setback, the seventh duel between the two teams will take place in Toronto on Saturday.
Source: Radio-Canada
