The Maple Leafs, the Playoffs, and Their Quest for “Killer Instinct”

The setbacks of Torontonians in the playoffs are known. No need to trace the thread of their last five appearances in the first round to prove it. The painful memory of their elimination in seven games at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens last summer suffices as an example, some would say. Toronto squandered three chances to win the series before finally giving up.

We had several chances last year. We didn’t do the job. We know itrecognized veteran Jason Spezza, Wednesday, at the Maple Leafs training complex.

We now have two chances to win our series [contre Tampa], but more importantly, we will have to play with a sense of urgency, the same that we had in the last game and which allowed us to come back from behind. This feeling must follow us to Tampa.

This sense of urgency, also called killer instinct by the management of the Toronto team, has often been pointed out as being the thing that past editions of the Maple Leafs lacked and which explained their inability to win a series.

As proof, in the past four years, the Maple Leafs have had seven chances to end a series. Each time, they admitted defeat, and four times in ultimate matches.

We have to learn from our mistakes. That’s what we try to do as a band here, but we’re also a different band. [de l’an dernier], recalled Spezza. The guys are at different points in their careers. They have matured. We also have new players. So yes, the players who were there learned lessons, but we are also a new version of the Toronto Maple Leafs and we are trying to move forward.

The Torontonians showed character in Game 5 of their series against the Lightning. Trailing 0-2, they scored three goals, then added another after Tampa Bay tied the game 3-3 for a heartening victory.

We have great fans, diehards, and I’m sure it would mean a lot to them if we win this series and believe us, we want to win too and we will do everything in our power to make it possible.said Michael Bunting.

I think we need to get off to a good start, and not try to come back from behind a few goals yet. I think we did a great job yesterday (Tuesday), but we’ll need that same sense of urgency, play it simple and stick to our game plan. [pour gagner] in Tampahe added.

To become the best, the Maple Leafs will obviously have to beat the best, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, on Thursday, and on their ice at that. It won’t be an easy feat, especially since the Lightning haven’t suffered back-to-back playoff losses since the spring of 2019.

We believe that we have the right group of players and that all the good things happen to us to be confident and play very well. That doesn’t make the challenge any easier. We know what to expect going to Tampasaid head coach Sheldon Keefe.

” For us, it was a real challenge to end the playoffs, but we believe that our team worked all season to get there and that they had the right attitude to face this kind of challenge. »

Last night’s game, in terms of perseverance, raising your level of play in the big moments and not letting yourself down, I think it set the stage for us to have the confidence to finish the work.

Game 6 of the series between the Maple Leafs and the Lightning will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

In the event of a Toronto setback, a seventh duel between the two teams will take place in Toronto on Saturday.