Not trying to downplay a 2-0 series lead here, but we’ll take the hesitant approach before proclaiming this best-of-seven Battle of Ontario series as being ‘over.’
Recent history – which includes a number of repeat offenders on the roster – tells us that until they actually hop the fence, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still in the yard; still catchable.
Still, you have to be impressed with how this perennial playoff disappointment has shot out of the gate.
Toronto has played well. Toronto has been the stronger team. Toronto has played better defensively, had more offensive chances and has sported the better goaltender through two games. Ottawa, meantime, needs to find the gas pedal and step on it before the suggestion that the Leafs are winning this set becomes a reality.
“There’s not one ounce of panic or doubt in this locker room,” offered up Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk minutes after Toronto bested the Senators 3-2 in overtime Tuesday night to grab a 2-0 series lead. “It’s just a test of adversity and an opportunity for us to grow and get better and take advantage of all the lessons that we learned.”
However, there is not much time to let those lessons soak in.
How about – no time.
If Ottawa can’t take advantage of home ice and home cooking Thursday night, all those lessons will be lovely and enticing but the time to implement them won’t arrive until we’re well into 2026. And that’s another lesson the Senators are learning on the run – opportunity is not a lengthy visitor in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“A lot of our guys haven’t played a lot of playoff hockey, and haven’t lost a game in that way, either,” said coach Travis Green after Tuesday’s defeat. “We talked about that quickly. I liked the way we played. It was a big step for our group . . . There is no reason to panic. We played two road games, and we probably deserved a better fate tonight. That’s playoff hockey.”
As for the opposition, I don’t think I’m the only one out there who thought this thought – Toronto has to win Game 1 and Toronto has to win Game 2. Anything but pair of W’s at home and the ghosts of springtime’s past resurface. Yes, there are fresh faces like the unshakeable Chris Tanev and towering Brandon Carlo but the meat on the bone of this team still resides with Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly.
You know the history, and more to the point, these five know the history.
One day at a time and one game at a time. Playoffs can swing in one direction or another rather quickly. That’s one reason why Thursday night’s encounter between Ottawa and Toronto will be an intriguing watch.
THOUGHT, SEEN AND HEARD: We caught a glimpse of where Toronto can falter and lose its intensity and awareness in Tuesday’s second period. They were out-shot 13-3 . . . Head coach Craig Berube: “In the second, we stopped skating and watched a little bit and stopped making plays. It is frustrating. But at the same time, as a coach, we ask our players to be composed. I have to be composed, too, talk to them about things, try to motivate them a little bit on the bench and get them going again, get them skating again” . . . Anthony Stolarz has clearly out-played Linus Ullmark to this point. Surprised? . . . Ullmark’s historical struggles in the post-season were well-documented by the Hockey Night in Canada crew prior to game time Tuesday. It’s bound to be a continuing hot topic at least up until Saturday night . . . Anyone pondering starting Anton Forsberg ahead of Ullmark is spitting into the wind. Not a chance . . . Ottawa is fully invested in Ullmark, and we’re not just talking about money . . . As Postmedia pointed out after the Game 2 victory, this is the first time in 23 years that the Leafs have strung together back-to-back wins to start a series . . . Brady’s dad, Keith, is watching with great interest as is Max’s dad, Tie. The two were teammates in Winnipeg for three seasons (1992-95) . . . During that three-year spell, Keith racked up 608 minutes in penalties. Tie posted a whopping 724 minutes in the box . . . Still on the family angle: Brady’s brother Matthew missed two months of hockey then stepped into the line-up Tuesday night against Tampa. Result? Two goals and an assist . . . Most are/were picking the Lightning over Matthew’s Panthers in their opening round series, but as Ric Flair says, “To be the man, you got to beat the man!” Until proven otherwise, I’m sticking with the Panthers. Thanks Ric.
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
Photo: Courtesy CP
