The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to climb out of a 0-2 hole on Sunday.
Having finally won a playoff series for the first time in 19 years when John Tavares banked in the Game 6 overtime clincher to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and spark wild celebrations across a tortured fan base, Toronto now finds itself down 0-2 to the underdog Florida Panthers in the second round following consecutive home losses.
"We don't want to be down two, but it's out of our control," said Toronto forward Ryan O'Reilly, who won the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues. "Everyone's turned the page pretty good. There's a good feeling in this room.Leafs winger Mitch Marner said the message is to stay the course for a high-octane offence that's combined for just eight goals over its last four games.
Keefe said part of the reason is the Leafs didn't make the careless mistakes in tough moments last round away from home the way they did in Games 1 and 2 against Florida."Being on the road this time of year is simpler," Keefe said. "When you leave the arena on the road, you're with your teammates, you're back to the hotel, you're resting. It's a very controlled environment.
"I don't think there's ever been a team in the history of the NHL who's not gone through the playoffs and had great runs without going through adversity," he said. "That could be dealing with injuries, that could be being down in series. I've never experienced or seen a playoffs that are totally smooth sailing.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies exits Game 2 with injuryKnies was hauled down by Sam Bennett midway through the first period.
Read more »
Toronto man shows up to every Maple Leafs game in opponent's jersey'I was going to every hockey game, because I love hockey, but the fact is I'm in Toronto so I'm watching Toronto, but they're not very good.'
Read more »
Anger spills into the streets after Toronto Maple Leafs lose Game 2 of seriesToronto Maple Leafs fans filed out of Scotiabank Arena in shock on Thursday night after the team blew a two-goal lead to fall 3-2 to the Florida Pa...
Read more »
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe disappointed in team after Game 2 lossToronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was not in much of a talking mood after Thursday night’s loss to the Florida Panthers. The Leafs, wh...
Read more »
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Knies likely done for rest of second-round seriesToronto Maple Leafs rookie Matthew Knies won't be in the lineup in Game 3 or Game 4, and he may be done for the series entirely, according to Sheld...
Read more »
Darryl Sittler reflects on his banner Toronto Maple Leafs careerToronto legend and entrepreneur still chuffed that he got to know his childhood idol, Jean Béliveau
Read more »