BOSTON — Dave Nonis is strapped in and essentially along for the ride as the Toronto Maple Leafs make their way through the playoffs.
The general manager acknowledges as much himself.
But Nonis plans to be watching closely to see how individual members of the NHL’s youngest team react to the pressure that comes with the post-season.
You can place him among the camp that believes the Boston Bruins’ superior experience played the biggest role in the thorough 4-1 series-opening victory at TD Garden.
“They knew what to expect,” Nonis told sportsnet.ca Friday afternoon. “You could see it in their morning preparation; you could see how they went about their business. They’re not that far away from hoisting the Cup (in 2011) so they know what has to be done and I think we’re learning what has to be done.
“There’s no substitute for experience and there’s only one way to get it.”
Entering the series, the edge in playoff appearances stood at 1,273-206 in favour of the Bruins. Toronto boosted its overall total by 8.5 per cent just by playing Wednesday’s game.
While Nonis saw plenty he didn’t like in that effort — particularly the lack of a consistency and execution — he did identify a few positives from Toronto’s first playoff game in nine years.
Among his observations:
– Mikhail Grabovski looked like his old self: “I thought that that may have been (his) best game this year. After having a difficult season, he was very competitive and generated some scoring chances.”
– James van Riemsdyk, one of Toronto’s few playoff veterans, stepped up his play and scored a goal: “He understood what it took to leave his mark on the game and probably because he’d been through it before.”
– James Reimer shook off a couple tough goals and stopped all 14 shots he faced in the final 20 minutes: “I like the way Reimer came back in the third (period), when he clearly could have let the game get away from him and he didn’t. He stuck with it and played well.”
Nonis’ scratchpad will be filled with plenty more notes as the series progresses — starting with Game 2 on Saturday night.
It was something he had the chance to do while following the Toronto Marlies march to the Calder Cup last spring, which ended up being an experience that helped dictate roster decisions made coming out of the lockout.
Coach Randy Carlyle has vowed to make lineup changes for the second game against the Bruins. Jake Gardiner is expected to draw in on the blue-line while Matt Frattin and Joe Colborne could get the nod up front. Ryan Hamilton is available at forward as well.
All four of those players took part in the Marlies’ playoff grind and would do well to remind themselves of the catchphrase from those Dallas Eakins commercials if they get an opportunity to play: “Every game is a tryout.”
“We’ve got a pretty young group out there and you want to see how they react to Game 2, Game 3, Game 4 and see if their play improves and how they go about things,” said Nonis.
As for the team itself, the mood seemed fairly relaxed following the second straight day of practice on the campus of Boston University.
Further removed from the disappointment of the opener, the players were able to look ahead to the opportunity still in front of them. The goal is obviously to earn a split in Boston before the series shifts to the Air Canada Centre.
“I think the underdog look is a good thing,” said forward Clarke MacArthur. “The pressure should be on them, not us. You get a win in this game (Saturday)d and it’s a brand new ballgame.
“You split and go home 1-1, it’s a good opportunity.”
They’ll need better performances from everyone if it’s going to happen.
Outside of Reimer, you’ll notice that Nonis didn’t single out any of the team’s marquee players when he identified the positives from Wednesday night.
That means the spotlight will be on the team’s top forwards even more than usual as Toronto looks to even the series. Members of that group claim they are ready to meet the challenge head on.
“Everyone’s learning, but it’s still a hockey game,” said forward Joffrey Lupul. “Just because you don’t have a lot of playoff experience doesn’t mean you can’t go out and play great. You see guys make a name for themselves every year in the playoffs.”
You also see moves made in the off-season based on what happens at the most important time of year.
That responsibility falls to Nonis and it won’t be very long at all before he’s faced with some tough personnel decisions. In the meantime, he’ll be waiting, watching and hoping that the 2013 version of his team is good enough to keep playing.
“There’s nothing you can do to help your team (right now) other than be around and offer opinion,” said Nonis. “It’s also a good chance for us to evaluate our players in a different setting and different environment and different level of play.
“There’s stuff for us to do internally, but in terms of helping the group we’re watching just like everyone else.”