Maple Leafs at Senators, Japanese Convention 1st Spherical Sport 4 preview – NHL.com

Toronto seeks 1st 4-game sweep of best-of-7 sequence since 2001, can oust Ottawa
© André Ringuette/NHLI through Getty Pictures
OTTAWA — The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to finish their first four-game sweep of a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff sequence in 24 years with a victory towards the Ottawa Senators in Sport 4 of the Japanese Convention First Spherical at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TBS, truTV, MAX).
The final time the Maple Leafs have been in a position to accomplish the feat was in 2001, once they swept the Senators within the first spherical. They’ll attempt to replicate that feat after profitable the primary three video games on this sequence, the previous two in additional time.
Ending off the sequence, nevertheless, is one other story for Toronto, which is 2-13 in potential series-winning video games since 2004.
“I don’t suppose there’s a unique strategy,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube stated after the staff’s morning skate when requested about the opportunity of having the ability to eradicate the Senators. “Every particular person wants to focus on each shift. [Ottawa] goes to push arduous like they’ve each recreation.
“It’s no completely different for me tonight. We simply must give attention to compete and puck battles like we’ve each recreation.”
The Senators are 8-16 (.333) in potential elimination video games and 4-6 (.400) when taking part in at dwelling, as they’re Saturday. Ottawa is 2-3 all-time in Sport 4s when going through a 3-0 sequence deficit.
For Senators coach Travis Inexperienced, the hot button is for his gamers to remain the course, even when going through the top of their season with a loss.
“Everybody has their very own thought course of, particularly if you’re going through elimination,” Inexperienced stated Saturday. “We attempt to give our staff issues to understand onto and dangle their hat on.
“Nevertheless it comes right down to what you’ve at all times carried out that actually counts, so we’re not about to vary our routine an entire lot.”
Right here’s what to search for in Sport 4:
Maple Leafs: Max Pacioretty is in line to play his second consecutive recreation after being out with an undisclosed damage since Feb. 8. The 36-year-old ahead had a shot on purpose and registered seven hits, tying with ahead Bobby McMann for the staff excessive, in 12:24 of ice time in a 3-2 additional time victory in Sport 3 on Thursday. Berube stated he was inspired by what he noticed from the veteran, who as soon as once more might be on the third line with McMann and Max Domi. Defenseman Morgan Rielly stated one of many points the staff want to enhance on is puck clearances out of the defensive zone, citing a necessity for faster and extra environment friendly puck motion.
Senators: Inexperienced was coy when requested about any potential lineup adjustments, saying to attend till the pregame skate to see if something was tweaked. Maybe Ottawa’s largest space of concern is their struggling penalty kill; the Maple Leafs have scored 5 instances on 9 alternatives within the sequence, one more reminder the Senators want to remain out of the penalty field.
Quantity to know: 6:53. The entire period of time Ottawa has led by the primary three video games of this sequence.
What to search for: When Berube was teaching the St. Louis Blues to their Stanley Cup run in 2019, one in every of his fortes was to begin his fourth line in postseason video games in an try to have them set a bodily tone. In Sport 3 he did precisely that, sending out the Steven Lorentz—Scott Laughton–Calle Jarnkrok unit to begin. Don’t be shocked if he does it once more.
🔹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
What they’re saying:
“A pair, that’s for certain. , lots of people help me, which I actually admire and means so much to me. So it’s enjoyable to see that outdated teammates, outdated coaches, outdated buddies, they nonetheless hold monitor of the way you’re doing. So it’s enjoyable.” — Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit when requested how many individuals reached out to him after he scored the additional time winner in Sport 3.
“We’re simply specializing in our recreation. We did not play nicely sufficient final recreation so we wish to reply. That’s our purpose tonight. Work on the small particulars which can be the distinction between wins and losses.” — Senators ahead Tim Stutzle
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg — John Tavares — William Nylander
Calle Jarnkrok — Scott Laughton — Steven Lorentz
Max Pacioretty — Max Domi — Bobby McMann
Morgan Rielly — Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe — Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
Scratched: Dakota Mermis, Philippe Myers, David Kampf, Artur Akhtyamov, Nicholas Robertson
Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (decrease physique)
Brady Tkachuk — Tim Stutzle — Claude Giroux
Fabian Zetterlund — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig — Shane Pinto — Michael Amadio
David Perron — Adam Gaudette — Nick Cousins
Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot — Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven — Nikolas Matinpalo
Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg
Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic, Matthew Highmore
Injured: Hayden Hodgson (decrease physique)
Standing report
The Maple Leafs will gown the identical lineup they utilized in a 3-2 additional time win in Sport 3 on Thursday. … Robertson, a ahead, might be a wholesome scratch for the second straight recreation. … The Senators held an non-compulsory morning skate. … Ottawa seemingly will gown the identical lineup it used Thursday.

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