TORONTO -- The pressure of Game 7 can be crippling, but the way Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner sees it, the Boston Bruins are the ones facing all the pressure now.
"Just have fun with it; the pressure is kind of off us," Gardiner said before the Maple Leafs flew to Boston on Tuesday, where Game 7 of the Eastern Conference First Round will be played at TD Garden on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, SN, NESN). "We're going to go into that building, it's going to be rocking and we're going to be ready to go. When we were down 3-1, I don't think anyone expected us to come back, and now that we're here, it's a good opportunity."
After trailing 2-0 and 3-1 in the series, the Maple Leafs have grown accustomed to playing desperately; they won 4-3 in Game 5 and 3-1 in Game 6, and have an opportunity to win a series and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004.
"We've crawled our way back to being in this series to have Boston, who I think is a real good team in the League, I think we're a real good team in the League, in a best-of-1, I don't think you could be in a better situation," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "You want to be players, coaches, management known for getting it done, and in order to do that, you've got to get it done. It should be a lot of fun, let's embrace it."
Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly, who has five assists in the series, has never played a Game 7 in the NHL.
"We've battled hard to get to this position; these are the games you want to play in," the 24-year-old said. "We know [the Bruins], we know what to expect from the crowd, so it's just a matter of staying calm and going in with the mindset of knowing you get one game to move on."
There are no more secrets between the Atlantic Division rivals, and spending time fretting about the possible outcome is wasted energy, Rielly said.
"There's nothing we can do now that's going to really change what's going to happen during the game, we just have to prepare," he said. "We know what they like to do, we've got hours of video, we've played them enough times. It's just a matter of going out playing hard and playing like you want it."
Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen, who made 74 saves on 78 shots in Games 5 and 6, said he thinks any nerves that may have affected the Maple Leafs earlier in the series will be long gone by the start of Game 7.
"Nothing," Andersen said when asked what role nerves will play in the deciding game. "We've been close to elimination, we've played with that kind of mentality for a bit now and we should feel comfortable."
Toronto has improved as the series has gone on; it hung on to win 4-3 in Game 5 despite being outshot 20-5 in the third period, and evened the series with a 3-1 win in Game 6, again defending the lead in the final period.
"I don't know if it's loose or it's just called confidence," Babcock said. "In the National Hockey League, anytime it's not going your way, you need to dig your way back. I think because we had a foundation of confidence and think we're a good team, we were able to do that. Without that, you'd have just been done."
Now in a situation where it is win or go home, Babcock said his biggest message to the Maple Leafs was for each player not to try to win the game on his own, to stick to his role and fulfill it the best he can.
"Little things like winning face-offs and taking care of the puck are so important, execution and [defensive]-zone, being heavy in the offensive zone," Babcock said. "This might be boring, but it's the facts; just do your job and we'll be fine."
Rielly said a chance to end a 14-year series drought is all the motivation they need.
"You imagine that during the summer, during the season, and then you get to this point in the season, you definitely draw from those thoughts," Rielly said. "It makes you motivated and makes you want to go in there and play well. It's a big opportunity for a young group to do something special."
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html
No comments:
Post a Comment