When the Maple Leafs signed John Tavares last summer, they had moments like these in mind.
Toronto will take on the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal tonight, and one of the teamB次元官网网址檚 star centres knows how he performs will likely go a long way in determining if the franchise moves beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
READ MORE:
B次元官网网址淭o get to where we ultimately want to get to and achieve the ultimate goal and play for a Stanley Cup, youB次元官网网址檙e going to have opportunities like this,B次元官网网址� Tavares said after the LeafsB次元官网网址� morning skate at TD Garden. B次元官网网址漈hese are the things youB次元官网网址檝e got to go through B次元官网网址� games youB次元官网网址檝e got to find ways to win.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 playoff hockey. This is what itB次元官网网址檚 all about. You just go out there and leave it all on the line.B次元官网网址�
The Leafs missed a chance to advance to the conference semifinals when they fell 4-2 at home in Game 6 on Sunday.
Toronto also could have gone up 3-1 at Scotiabank Arena in Game 4, but lost 5-4 midway through a back-and-forth series where neither teams has managed consecutive victories and the visitors hold a 4-2 record.
The Leafs lost to the Bruins in seven games at this stage of the playoffs last spring after falling to Boston in a crushing Game 7 loss in 2013, although defenceman Jake Gardiner and suspended centre Nazem Kadri are the only players that remain on the roster from that miserable night.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 two really good teams that are playing,B次元官网网址� Toronto head coach Mike Babcock said. B次元官网网址滱s you look at the National Hockey League you see lots, you see how tight it is. The biggest thing for me is weB次元官网网址檙e going in the right direction. WeB次元官网网址檙e building a program that I think is giving us a real opportunity. WeB次元官网网址檝e been here before.
B次元官网网址淲e feel like weB次元官网网址檙e set up better to do it. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to keep pushing till you get through these opportunities and you keep advancing. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a challenge for us.B次元官网网址�
Asked how it felt to wake up the morning of a Game 7, Leafs centre Auston Matthews, who has five goals in his last four games, kept his cards close to the vest.
B次元官网网址淟ike any other game day, I guess,B次元官网网址� the 21-year old said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 obviously a big game for us, but I donB次元官网网址檛 think the mentality or anything changes.
B次元官网网址淵ou want to go in and play your best game. ItB次元官网网址檚 win or go home.B次元官网网址�
For the Leafs to keep playing, theyB次元官网网址檒l have to solve a BruinsB次元官网网址� power play thatB次元官网网址檚 an eye-popping 7-for-16 in the series. Toronto has struggled in the faceoff circle while killing penalties, and could deploy Tavares on draws in an effort to gain more possession.
Tavares is also looking to contribute on the offensive side. Despite playing well against the BruinsB次元官网网址� top line at 5-on-5, he has just one empty-net goal, while linemate Mitch Marner has a solitary point at even strength.
Babcock said his message to the team before puck drop is simple B次元官网网址� embrace the moment.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e Mitch Marner when youB次元官网网址檙e seven or eight and youB次元官网网址檙e playing road hockey, which guy were you? You were whoever scored the overtime winner the night before,B次元官网网址� said the coach. B次元官网网址滲e that guy again. But enjoy what youB次元官网网址檙e doing. The feeling of anxiety, and the feeling of a little tightness, thatB次元官网网址檚 what youB次元官网网址檙e supposed to feel.
B次元官网网址淚t helps you react better. It helps you be quicker. It means youB次元官网网址檙e alive. DonB次元官网网址檛 we all want to be alive?B次元官网网址�
ThatB次元官网网址檚 what the Leafs hope to be when they wake up tomorrow morning.
B次元官网网址淲e want to keep playing,B次元官网网址� Tavares said. B次元官网网址漌e donB次元官网网址檛 want this thing to end.B次元官网网址�
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on
