Senators at Maple Leafs, Japanese Convention 1st Spherical Recreation 2 preview – NHL.com

Toronto seeks 1st 2-0 playoff sequence lead since 2002, ready for stiffer resistance from Ottawa
© Claus Andersen/Getty Photos
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs will try and take their first 2-0 lead in a Stanley Cup Playoff sequence in 23 years after they host the Ottawa Senators in Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention First Spherical at Scotiabank Area on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET: CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN2).
Toronto has not received the primary two video games of a postseason sequence since doing so within the first spherical towards the New York Islanders in 2002. The Maple Leafs went on to win that best-of-7 sequence in seven video games.
Toronto defeated Ottawa 6-2 in Recreation 1 on Sunday however is braced for a pushback from the Senators.
“We’re going to have the identical mindset as we did in Recreation 1,” Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev stated after Toronto’s morning skate. “We’re targeted on one sport at a time.
“We’re not wanting into the previous or again on the previous or wanting into the longer term. We have to keep within the current and keep assured and be collectively and play our sport.”
The lone lineup change for Toronto entails ahead Pontus Holmberg, who changed Max Domi on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander throughout apply Monday. Domi dropped all the way down to the third line, the place he’ll heart Bobby McMann and Nicholas Robertson.
“Only a matchup factor,” coach Craig Berube stated.
The Senators, in the meantime, can be confronted with quite a few game-time selections.
Ahead Ridly Greig and defenseman Nick Jensen didn’t take part within the morning skate. Afterward, Ottawa coach Travis Inexperienced stated every must be accessible to play.
Inexperienced wouldn’t affirm if Nick Cousins would enter into the lineup after sitting out Recreation 1, however the ahead spoke as if he’d be enjoying; he performed the ultimate two video games of the common season after lacking the earlier 30 due to knee surgical procedure.
“I really feel good,” Cousins stated after the Senators morning skate. “I imply, I clearly wish to are available in and assist the fellows out and supply some vitality and get a win on the finish of the day.”
Groups that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven sequence personal an all-time sequence file of 353-56 (.863), together with a 266-34 (.887) mark when beginning at residence.
Here’s a breakdown of Recreation 2:
Senators: Lacking morning skates has been an everyday prevalence for Jensen in the course of the common season, however as a rule, he has performed within the sport that evening. Greig, nevertheless, has been an everyday participant in morning skates, so his absence provides to the intrigue. Ottawa is intent on having higher self-discipline than they did in Recreation 1 after they took 15 penalties for a complete of 38 minutes, in comparison with Toronto’s 9 penalties and 18 minutes.
Maple Leafs: Goalie Anthony Stolarz was within the starter’s internet in the course of the morning skate after getting a relaxation day Monday. Domi’s shift again to heart on the third line is an try and ignite McMann’s offense and break his aim funk; he has gone 12 video games and not using a aim (11 common season, one playoff) since scoring in a 7-2 win towards the Philadelphia Flyers on March 25.
Quantity to know: 6. Toronto’s blocked pictures margin in Recreation 1; the Maple Leafs had 18 blocks to the Senators’ 12. Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe led all gamers in that class with 4.
What to search for: Berube stated the Maple Leafs should play higher 5-on-5 than they did in Recreation 1. He particularly thought the Claude Giroux–Tim Stutzle–Brady Tkachuk line had far too many simple offensive zone entries, one thing he stated Toronto wants to deal with. Will Toronto’s defensemen arise on the blue line extra and drive the Stutzle line to dump pucks in deep?
🔹Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
🔹Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
🔹Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
🔹New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes
🔹St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
🔹Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
🔹Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights
🔹Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
“It’s superior. That’s why you play the sport. Since I used to be just a little child, simply watching the rivalries, watching Don Cherry’s Rock’em Sock’em (movies), it’s simply good reminiscences for me. And to have the ability to dwell a rivalry like Ottawa-Toronto, it doesn’t get any higher than this.” — Senators ahead Claude Giroux, a local of Hearst, Ontario, who’s getting his first style of the playoff version of the Battle of Ontario
“I didn’t actually perceive all of it, you recognize, earlier than this. I watched it prior to now, clearly. However, you recognize, there’s some hatred there for certain. And it’s fairly good. I get pleasure from it.” — Berube, when requested about his first postseason Battle of Ontario
Brady Tkachuk — Tim Stutzle — Claude Giroux
David Perron — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson
Fabian Zetterlund — Shane Pinto — Michael Amadio
Nick Cousins — Adam Gaudette — Matthew Highmore
Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot — Travis Hamonic
Tyler Klevin — Nikolas Matinpalo
Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg
Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Leevi Merilainen, Ridly Greig, Nick Jensen
Injured: Hayden Hodgson (decrease physique)
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Max Domi — Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz — Scott Laughton — Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
Scratched: Dakota Mermis, Philippe Myers, Max Pacioretty, David Kampf, Ryan Reaves, Artur Akhtyamov
Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (decrease physique)
Standing report
The Senators strains mirrored these used throughout their morning skate. … The Maple Leafs will costume the identical 18 skaters they used of their 6-2 win in Recreation 1. … The Holmberg-Domi change was foreshadowed after Berube moved Holmberg as much as the second line rather than Domi halfway by Recreation 1.

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