Maple Leafs at Senators, Jap Convention 1st Spherical Recreation 4 preview – NHL.com

Toronto seeks 1st 4-game sweep of best-of-7 collection since 2001, can oust Ottawa
© André Ringuette/NHLI by way of Getty Pictures
OTTAWA — The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to finish their first four-game sweep of a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff collection in 24 years with a victory in opposition to the Ottawa Senators in Recreation 4 of the Jap 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, after they swept the Senators within the first spherical. They may attempt to replicate that feat after profitable the primary three video games on this collection, the previous two in time beyond regulation.
Ending off the collection, nonetheless, 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 mentioned after the staff’s morning skate when requested about the potential for having the ability to remove the Senators. “Every particular person wants to focus on each shift. [Ottawa] goes to push laborious like they’ve each sport.
“It’s no completely different for me tonight. We simply should concentrate on compete and puck battles like we now have each sport.”
The Senators are 8-16 (.333) in potential elimination video games and 4-6 (.400) when taking part in at house, as they’re Saturday. Ottawa is 2-3 all-time in Recreation 4s when dealing with a 3-0 collection deficit.
For Senators coach Travis Inexperienced, the hot button is for his gamers to remain the course, even when dealing with the tip of their season with a loss.
“Everybody has their very own thought course of, particularly once you’re dealing with elimination,” Inexperienced mentioned Saturday. “We attempt to give our staff issues to know onto and hold their hat on.
“However it comes right down to what you’ve all the time carried out that basically counts, so we’re not about to vary our routine an entire lot.”
Right here’s what to search for in Recreation 4:
Maple Leafs: Max Pacioretty is in line to play his second consecutive sport after being out with an undisclosed harm since Feb. 8. The 36-year-old ahead had a shot on aim and registered seven hits, tying with ahead Bobby McMann for the staff excessive, in 12:24 of ice time in a 3-2 time beyond regulation victory in Recreation 3 on Thursday. Berube mentioned 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 mentioned one of many facets 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 modifications, 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 collection, yet one more reminder the Senators want to remain out of the penalty field.
Quantity to know: 6:53. The full period of time Ottawa has led by the primary three video games of this collection.
What to search for: When Berube was teaching the St. Louis Blues to their Stanley Cup run in 2019, one among his fortes was to begin his fourth line in postseason video games in an try to have them set a bodily tone. In Recreation 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 positive. You already know, lots of people assist me, which I actually recognize and means so much to me. So it’s enjoyable to see that previous teammates, previous coaches, previous buddies, they nonetheless preserve 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 time beyond regulation winner in Recreation 3.
“We’re simply specializing in our sport. We did not play nicely sufficient final sport so we wish to reply. That’s our aim tonight. Work on the small particulars which are 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 costume the identical lineup they utilized in a 3-2 time beyond regulation win in Recreation 3 on Thursday. … Robertson, a ahead, might be a wholesome scratch for the second straight sport. … The Senators held an non-compulsory morning skate. … Ottawa seemingly will costume the identical lineup it used Thursday.

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