TORONTO – Members of the Toronto Maple Leafs had no doubt that their first playoff game at Air Canada Centre in more than nine years would make for a special night.
The focus after Monday’s morning skate was doing everything they could to ensure it was a memorable one as well.
The only way to make that happen was replicating the strong performance from Game 2 against the Boston Bruins and taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. In other words, the Leafs wanted to make sure they didn’t get caught up in all of the hoopla and excitement around the ACC.
“Everyone’s really excited for this game, but we’re just focusing on what we need to do on the ice,” said winger Joffrey Lupul. “It’s still a hockey game. It’s going to be a loud rowdy atmosphere I’m sure.
“But it won’t be as special if we don’t go out there and play the way we’re capable of.”
The series has been even in every sense of the word. Both teams feel like they’ve played one good game and one not so good one and each ended up with a victory and a defeat to show for it.
Randy Carlyle made four changes to his Leafs lineup after the 4-1 loss in Game 1, but wouldn’t comment on whether more juggling might be done on Monday.
“It’s playoffs and it’s an important time for our team,” said Carlyle. “(We’re doing what) we can to gain any advantage.”
The Bruins were ready to welcome back veteran defenceman Andrew Ference from a one-game suspension. That will likely see the top pairing of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg reunited on the blue-line.
This is a battle-tested team that has played in four Game 7s in the past two years alone and coach Claude Julien was calling for a crisper effort on Monday.
“We just need a better performance on our part of it,” he said. “That’s what we expect. If we play the type of hockey we feel we can, we believe we’re good enough to win.”
The excitement that comes with playoff hockey was unmistakable in Toronto. An unusual number of sweaters could be seen around the city for a day mayor Rob Ford proclaimed “blue and white day” in the city.
Lupul said that he had tried to insulate himself by staying in – “I didn’t go on the street,” he said – but a few Leafs dined together at a restaurant on Sunday night. As you would expect, they were recognized by excited fans.
“We get that a lot down here,” said centre Nazem Kadri. “All of the fans are educated and involved and know all the players. It’s nice when you’re walking around the city and wishing you the best of luck.”
The Bruins flew to Toronto Sunday afternoon and ventured out for a team meal in the evening. They didn’t get any early sense of the wrath they’re likely to face from the Toronto crowd.
“There weren’t many people in the restaurant,” said centre David Krejci. “It was pretty low key. Everyone was respectful.”
A key thing to watch in Game 3 is how the dynamic shifts in line matching now that Carlyle has the benefit of last change.
The Leafs coach constantly shuffled his units during Saturday’s 4-2 victory in an effort to keep winger Phil Kessel away from Chara. That effort paid off when Kessel scored the game-winning goal while Chara was on the bench.
For his part, Julien tried to downplay that storyline by saying Seidenberg and Johnny Boychuk should have done a better job of covering Kessel and now letting him free for a breakaway.
“This is a Leafs team, not a Kessel team,” said Julien. “It’s not a one-man show. We respect that team as a whole.”
For anyone wondering about what the atmosphere might be like with playoff hockey finally back in Toronto, all they had to do was see the video from Maple Leaf Square when Kessel scored that goal.
The video clip was emailed to Carlyle and the Leafs players all watched it too.
“Our fans are excited and they’re rallying and they’re using this as a springboard to spring,” said Carlyle. “We finally got some decent weather and they’re outside and they’re cheering. Hockey in spring creates a playoff atmosphere.
“It’s great.”
