TORONTO — When the scrums dispersed and the mud settled on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-2 outclassing of the Ottawa Senators in Sport 1, the visiting coach stated one thing about how good their analytics had been at 5-on-5.
Travis Inexperienced additionally stated he favored his goaltending, which stopped pucks at a .750 fee. And he urged that the Maple Leafs weren’t all the time sincere in how they discovered methods to get on the facility play — the place they beat up their provincial rivals with three fast, unraveling strikes.
“We undoubtedly have to remain out of the field. I’ll say that,” Inexperienced admitted. “I believed there was a pair calls they did a very good job promoting.”
Maybe. In the event you squint onerous sufficient.
However the coach isn’t promoting anybody on the notion that this was a detailed hockey recreation. Or that his inexperienced group was practically as ready for the beast that’s the NHL post-season because the division-winning Maple Leafs — all scar tissue and April amnesia at this level.
“Sort of the previous saying: You’re not within the NHL until you play within the playoffs,” stated a smart David Perron, one of many few Senators who executed a sensible, efficient recreation.
Properly, Ottawa waited eight years to return to the dance, and we’ll see Tuesday in the event that they plan to be something however wallflowers.
“I believed the primary 5, 10 minutes, we had been a bit of nervous, which might be to be anticipated,” Inexperienced stated.
And that’s honest. All however eight Senators awoke Easter morning with no single Stanley Cup match recreation in his basket.
The Leafs of the previous have usually been the shakier, extra frantic facet. Now, they merely appeared poised to reap the benefits of one.
“It undoubtedly helps,” Leafs coach Craig Berube stated of that have. “(Figuring out) what to anticipate and methods to maintain your staff composed and calm and discuss concerning the issues that come up in video games and collection, shift to shift, all that stuff.
“It’s necessary to have composure. There’s numerous ups and downs, numerous issues go incorrect, issues go proper, and self-discipline is essential.”
On 4/20, the Senators rolled up and obtained smoked.
Though Ottawa gave trailer Oliver Ekman-Larsson a clear path to the slot and Mitch Marner a no-doubt breakaway, the underdogs had escaped the primary interval down simply 2-1.
They had been within the contest till they took themselves out.
Tim Stützle boarded Chris Tanev within the offensive zone. Ridly Greig cross-checked John Tavares within the neck — an infraction each Tavares and Berube urged the league study — 200 ft from his personal web. And Adam Gaudette, already killing Greig’s penalty, cross-checked Auston Matthews.
Three ill-advised aggressions in beneath three-and-a-half minutes gave Toronto’s loaded power-play greater than sufficient time to tuck the sport away.
“I feel we’re simply transferring our ft and perhaps making them attain into, no matter, silly penalties typically,” stated William Nylander, one in all Toronto’s six objective scorers.
Name it nerves or immaturity, however Ottawa’s keen try and set a tone resulted in pricey impatience. They took 36 minutes’ price of penalties to the Leafs’ 16.
“Kudos us for staying disciplined,” successful goalie Anthony Stolarz stated. “Guys know the way bodily playoffs are and the way it’s important to maintain your composure. So, our guys deserve numerous credit score tonight for doing that.”
Furthermore, all that point within the field allowed manner too many Leafs to begin feeling good about themselves.
The Core 4, which was restricted to a mixed 12 factors in 2024’s complete best-of-seven in opposition to Boston erupted for 9 factors in 60 minutes.
“They had been dialed in,” Stolarz beamed.
Marner, the sport’s First Star, already matched his post-season whole from final spring, and Playoff Morgan Rielly obtained on the board with a sneaky sifter from the purpose.
Whereas the Senators’ most impactful participant was wild-card Greig, who scored a objective, “by accident” crashed Stolarz’s web, and obtained away with solely two minutes for his stickwork on Tavares.
He could possibly be an issue this collection. We simply don’t know for which staff but.
“We’re disciplined. We’re going to maintain being disciplined. We’re going to play onerous between the whistles the precise manner and maintain being bodily. However we’re not going to get entangled in all of the antics after the whistles,” Berube stated.
“I believed they made some makes an attempt at our goalie, sliding into him and issues like that. However that’s not for us to fret about. We’ve obtained to give attention to taking part in. We’ve obtained to give attention to ourselves and what we have to do. The league will take a look at all that stuff.”
Hey, it’s just one recreation, regardless of how lopsided the scoresheet.
But it surely’s already time for the Senators to give attention to themselves. They could be underdogs, however they’re higher than they confirmed Sunday.
Even this one recreation of expertise ought to train them that a lot.
• Matthew Knies, the youngest Maple Leaf, led the staff in ice time in Sport 1 (22:29). That tells you every thing you have to know concerning the coach’s belief within the 22-year-old.
• Can’t say we cherished Anthony Stolarz’s rebound management on the Drake Batherson strike, however the massive man settled down properly within the second interval, stoning Tkachuk on a clear breakaway and Shane Pinto on a harmful, cross-seam one-timer.
Total, he was excellent in his first playoff begin, making 31 saves. He’ll carry a career-high nine-game win streak into Sport 2.
Seems just like the man with the Vezina on the shelf may not be greatest goalie within the collection.
“The environment was nice,” Stolarz stated. “Sort of goosebumps whenever you stepped on the ice and the gang goes nuts. So, I feel that propelled us lots tonight.”
• Who cares about nice climate?
Keith and Chantal Tkachuk — who grabbed a pair seats in Scotiabank Area to observe their youngest’s playoff debut — have chosen the Battle of Ontario over the Battle of Florida.
“Properly, they obtained the Stanley Cup expertise final 12 months, so that they’re all-in on the Sens proper now. They’ll be following us round,” Brady stated.
“In all probability an important folks in my life which have accomplished a lot for me. So, for them to have the ability to help Sport 1 and are available alongside on this experience, it’s going to be so particular to share that with them.”
• Do you bear in mind your first playoff recreation, 36-year-old champion David Perron?
“Vancouver. We misplaced in 4 video games,” the veteran replied, pondering again to his 2009 Blues. “However that they had the Sedin brothers there. Kevin Bieksa in all probability cross-checking me 50,000 occasions over 4 video games. In some way, we turned buddies. I do not know the way.
“However I do know it’s an thrilling time. You play your entire life for this.”
• Scott Laughton — making his first playoff look in 5 years and first with followers within the barn in seven — appeared like a person refreshed.
The fourth-line centre arrange Ekman-Larsson’s opening objective, chipped in on an ideal penalty kill, gained 58 per cent of his attracts, and dragged Tkachuk into the field for roughing.
A stable 15-plus minutes of labor by a deadline pickup that wanted time however is discovering his ft right here.
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