In many ways, it feels like we are exactly where we need to be. Killing the dragon would always come down to Game 7.
United Forever # LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/oY9iLyo3F3
– Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 14, 2022
Leafs and their fan base are back in a very familiar position after missing an elimination opportunity to slip away in Game 6, but the way they got here this time feels much better and there is something reassuring about the fact that the first on home ice since 2004. Only time will tell if it will be enough to end the curse of Game 7 against an opponent of his caliber.
One of the biggest pluses the Leafs can take away from Thursday’s loss was their ability to control the puck and outplay Tampa from the start of the game at five to five during a clean game of equal play in the first frame, a rarity in a series marked by early penalties. Maybe Game 6 was an indication of what the refereeing team would come up with in terms of their elimination standard, but the Leafs had to be prepared for every opportunity after six games in which they had a little of everything. Remarkably, a 5v3 goal, a short hand goal and a 4v4 goal were what put Leafs in overtime in first place in Game 6.
The other hope for Leafs is that the return of the home ice, with an audience that was the seventh man on the ice for Leafs during their two SBA victories and the last shift belonging to Sheldon Keef, will allow Leafs to gain an advantage in the field. where this contested game – and series – will eventually be resolved.
The other encouraging sign was that Matthews’ line managed to win their match on the road against the Sirelli-Point-Killarn line, scoring a goal against them to start the return and end with command control over the attempts to strike.
With the home ice advantage and the last substitution in Game 7, the Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev trio will take many draws in the defensive zone, while they get the Tavares and Matthews lines the most kicks in the box in the offensive zone and use the odds where Keefe can find one.
Overall, the Leafs have managed to lead the battle five to five so far, winning by goals (12-10) and xGoals / 60 (2.52-2.38). They used special teams to their advantage at times in the series, but achieved negative results in a total of six games: The Leafs accounted for 16% of the game’s strength against Lightning with 23% and 77% of PK to 84% for Lightning.
A 2-1 advantage over short goals narrows the gap somewhat – not to mention a pair of Leafs 4v4 goals in Game 5 if you want to think it’s a special time for teams – but 5v5 generally preferred Buds and avoiding untimely penalties against TB power play, which can mark a timely violation with relentless effectiveness, will be crucial tonight.
It could be argued that a case of self-shooting in the leg cost Leafs a chance to end this series for six on Thursday: a blind erroneous goal-for-goal pass from nothing, consecutive high fouls within 15 seconds of each other, a reversal leading to naked against a step. However, these are three consecutive games now that the Leafs have been short of several goals; no matter how relatively Leafs solve it relatively routinely in this series, with the story of Andrei Vassilevsky with the possibility of eliminations excluded, this is not the recipe they will strive to repeat tonight.
Most of the statistics are indicative of a series that will be decided on the lowest margin, but we can usually discard the numbers when it comes to match 7. Often the team that makes the fewest mistakes and gets a few rebounds to go on his way, the winner goes.
From the other locker room, Toronto-born John Cooper effectively captured what tonight represents for Leafs Nation and the hockey world as a whole:
The irony, right? Saturday night. Hockey night in Canada. In Toronto. You have two-time champions. You have a team rich in traditions and extremely popular in this country. These moments just don’t happen that often.
Getting out of the situation, television is a must-watch if you are a hockey fan or some kind of sports fan at all.
Try to enjoy it, fans of Leafs. See you on the other side.
Quotes for the day of the game
John Cooper on the benefits of his team’s elimination experience:
You learn from experience. Experience doesn’t win your game, but it can certainly help when times are running out. You can’t let this moment get too big for you. This is a great message for the boys.
It’s hard to say that this is just another game because they are human, but don’t let the moment engulf you.
Cooper for the theatricality of Game 7:
The sun is still rising tomorrow, regardless of the outcome. I was on both sides of it. The line Jim McKay used was “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” This is indeed the case.
The sun will rise tomorrow, but you are working so hard to put yourself in a situation. It’s extremely difficult when you lose, but damn it’s exciting when you win.
Sheldon Keefe for his level of nervousness when entering another game 7:
I don’t feel nervous. Just excitement. This is as confident as I coached this team.
Trust is won, right? Part of that is that we were right at the top of the league all season. We found the home ice in a very difficult division and overtook this opponent for [it].
Through this series, both teams are fighting each other. Both teams tapped each other a little on the ass, but both stood up and continued to do so. We were right there with the consecutive champions. Our boys gained a lot of confidence knowing that they belonged in that moment.
Keef about why his team’s confidence is high in match 7:
This is because of the way we played this series and how we played against this opponent. Part of that is how we played all season and responded to the challenges. Much of our trust has grown in this series [as well].
You do not know how the result of the game will be. In my opinion, the opponent is as confident as we are. But where are you [most] he is confident that the players will relax, go out and compete and play with energy. That’s what I’m sure of.
We will give ourselves every opportunity to win the match.
Keef on the mental approach his team is taking to move on to another game-decisive series:
Many nerves are not nerves. This is excitement. You want to go out and play. You know what’s at stake. You know this is game 7.
The mental approach should be simple that you just go out to play another game. This is another game in this series. We played well in this series. We played well in this building.
We don’t have to make it bigger than it is. It’s big enough as it is, and we know it. This is the reality. This is unspoken. We just try to keep things focused on what we can do as a team and keep playing the way we are. This gives us a chance to win.
Keef on why he chose to have a whole morning skate today:
This is what we do in all series. We go out on a day off – a day to travel. We just follow the same routine.
Keefe about whether he plans to make any tactical changes tonight:
Regarding the plan, I would follow the course. When it comes to Game 7, both teams know each other very well. From this sense it is not much different.
There are other areas we have focused on that we need to continue to do better at both the defense and the offensive. I think both teams generated a lot of speed going through the neutral zone in this series. The team that does best will have the advantage tonight.
Aston Matthew’s growth key:
He has established himself as an elite player in the league, but also as a player who has experienced a lot. Especially at this time of year, he believes in himself and his ability to go out and play.
Keefe about how much influence the Toronto audience will have on the match tonight:
All I can do is give up what we’ve experienced in this series so far. For me, this no doubt made a difference. I expect it to be the same here tonight.
It will be an electric atmosphere. Obviously we have to follow this with our game. Another source of my confidence is that I know what our team will bring today and I really believe in that because of what they showed us in this series.
I know our fans will bring it tonight. For all these reasons, let’s drop the puck and deal with it.
Keef on how the team will prepare for the refereeing tonight:
The important thing is that our expectations are that they will impose penalties. They will call for violations. We must be responsible with our sticks. I have to move my legs. We need to determine the position of the body.
At the same time, we can’t get distracted and lose focus on what the game is or isn’t called. There are enough distractions and things that happen beyond our control. We just need to stay focused on changing the game to change and not give officials a reason to award penalties.
Keef for what he is looking for from the beginning of his team until the match:
I think I’m just starting well, no matter who scored. We want to look comfortable skating and competing.
We didn’t score the first goal that night, but I still liked the way we played and kept playing. It was the same coming here. It goes without saying that scoring the first goal sets you up in the game.
Toronto Maple Leafs Designed Lines
Forwards №56 Michael Bunting – №34 Austin Matthews – №16 Mitch Marner №15 Alex …
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