Maple Leafs at Senators, Japanese Convention 1st Spherical Recreation 6 preview – NHL.com

Toronto tries for third time to shut out Ottawa, advance to 2nd spherical
© André Ringuette/NHLI by way of Getty Photos
OTTAWA — The Toronto Maple Leafs will attempt for a 3rd time to eradicate the Ottawa Senators within the Japanese Convention First Spherical when the 2 groups meet in Recreation 6 of the best-of-7 collection at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TBS, MAX).
Simpler stated than performed.
The Maple Leafs are 1-13 in video games in the course of the Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner–William Nylander period once they’ve had the chance to shut out an opponent and advance in the course of the the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’re 0-2 in these conditions to date on this collection, having gained the primary three video games earlier than a 4-3 time beyond regulation loss in Recreation 4 and 4-0 defeat on house ice in Recreation 5.
“Able to go. Enterprise. Let’s go,” coach Craig Berube stated when requested what the temper of the group was like.
Toronto leads the collection 3-2 however has skilled points placing groups away previously. To that finish, the Maple Leafs have gained one postseason collection since 2004, that coming in 2023 once they eradicated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six video games within the first spherical.
“I undoubtedly assume you wish to have a really excessive sense of urgency tonight,” stated Matthews, the Maple Leafs captain. “You wish to exit, compete, have enjoyable, and do it for the man sitting subsequent to you within the room.”
In the meantime, the Senators can take the following step in hopes of turning into the fifth group in NHL historical past to beat a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason collection, becoming a member of the 1942 Maple Leafs in opposition to the Detroit Pink Wings, the 1975 New York Islanders in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers in opposition to the Boston Bruins, and the 2014 Los Angeles Kings in opposition to the San Jose Sharks.
With two consecutive wins, they’re midway there. However captain Brady Tkachuk cautioned in opposition to trying too far forward.
“(We) simply should have that very same mindset of win-or-go-home,” he stated. “Nothing else to put it aside for. Identical message because the previous couple of video games: Simply depart all of it on the market, bodily, mentally, emotionally, and the sport normally takes care of itself.”
The Maple Leafs personal an all-time collection report of 6-0 when profitable every of the primary three contests in a best-of-seven postseason spherical.
Groups that maintain a 3-2 lead in a Stanley Cup Playoff collection have gone on to win 79.2 p.c of the time (357-94) and 80.7 p.c of the time (217-52) when opening the collection at house.
Here’s a breakdown of Recreation 6:
Maple Leafs: Veteran ahead Max Pacioretty has been bumped as much as the second line with Nylander and John Tavares. The trio confirmed flashes of fine chemistry earlier within the season earlier than Pacioretty bumped into harm woes, and Berube feels they’ll once more, particularly with Pacioretty’s penchant for inflicting chaos across the opposition crease. He’ll take the spot of Pontus Holmberg, who slides into Pacioretty’s former spot on the third line with Max Domi and Bobby McMann.
Senators: Ottawa understandably is sticking with the identical lineup after back-to-back victories. The Senators will proceed to depend on defenseman Jake Sanderson, who’s fourth in common ice time per recreation (27:21) in the course of the playoffs, trailing solely Brian Dumoulin of the New Jersey Devils (29:21), Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars (28:39) and Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild (27:45).
Quantity to know: 26. That’s the consecutive variety of energy performs the Maple Leafs have failed to attain on in video games by which they may eradicate an opponent, going again to Recreation 7 of the 2018 First Spherical, a 7-4 loss on the Bruins.
What to look at for: Berube needs higher offense from his group and is in search of his defensemen to affix the push extra. The hazard is that would create odd-man rushes for the Senators, who’ve taken benefit of these conditions in Video games 4 and 5. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see who wins this cat-and-mouse recreation of X’s and O’s.
🔹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
“Get them the puck. Go to the online. Attempt to create a while and area for them. They’ve each been enjoying nice hockey and my job is to be bodily and get them the puck.” — Pacioretty on being reunited with Nylander and Tavares on the second line.
“We’re anticipating large issues. Like I stated, this isn’t nearly our group, it is about our metropolis and you may really feel the joy. We’ll want it tonight. The quantity of power and pleasure we get from our followers, this metropolis, it is one thing that, I do not actually assume they know the impression that they’ve on our group.” — Tkachuk on the impression of the gang at Canadian Tire Centre
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Pontus Holmberg — Max Domi
Calle Jarnkrok — Scott Laughton — Steven Lorentz
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)
Senators projected lineup
Brady Tkachuk — Tim Stutzle — Claude Giroux
David Perron — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig — Shane Pinto — Michael Amadio
Nick Cousins — Adam Gaudette — Fabian Zetterlund
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
Berube opted to not make any lineup modifications for Recreation 6. … Stolarz will make his sixth consecutive begin, an NHL profession first. … The Senators held an optionally available morning skate.
NHL.com impartial correspondent Callum Fraser contributed to this report

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