'We're Not Yelling At Each Other Because We Hate Each Other': Maple Leafs Give Their Version of the Second Period Argument on the Bench Following Game 4 Loss to Bruins
Whether it was boos raining down or missed scoring opportunities, the Maple Leafs looked like a frustrated team in their 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
However, they opted to say otherwise following what could be their final home game of the season.
There was one particular instance during the second period where Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner were shown on the broadcast visibly aggravated with one another.
"You know what, that's just the way we are. We expect a lot from each other and we love each other," Nylander said following the loss on Saturday. "So, I mean, just to push each other, [and to] have a high ceiling, I think is great."
This didn't appear as teammates bickering about a play, though. All three players were visibly discontent with what was happening throughout the game. Marner even went as far as throwing his gloves on the Maple Leafs' bench floor as his anger boiled over.
"I don't think there's any [frustration]. We're grown men. We're talking about plays out there that we just want to make sure we're all 100% on," Marner said about the spirited chat between teammates.
"Just a little bit off-page there. We're not yelling at each other because we hate each other. We just want to all be on the same page and help each other out to get the best offensive chance and it didn't work out that one opportunity.
"But, Willy and I, and Auston, we talked about it after. We're just trying to make a play and fortunately enough, it didn't happen on that one."
When Morgan Rielly was asked on Saturday night about the frustration, the Maple Leafs' defenceman took a different approach, saying there's no sense in being exasperated.
"There's no point being too frustrated, unless it's gonna lead to work ethic," he said. "Obviously, we're trying to win a game and we're down. So there's gonna be emotion and guys are competitive. We're out there trying to win.
"When it's not going your way it can be challenging. But if you're gonna get frustrated, it just has to lead to motivation and work ethic and take it to net."
Toronto has now been pushed to the brink of elimination. They haven't won a playoff game at home since their 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of their series last year. That was seven home playoff games ago.
Clearly, mixing that with not being able to have an answer against the Bruins, there's some frustration.
"I don't sense any frustration," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said on Saturday, now with his team being one loss away from elimination. "Guys are pushing one another. Guys are competitive. Guys want to win. It's all part of it."
The Maple Leafs will travel to Boston on Monday for Game 5 on Tuesday night. It could be their final game of the year, or, they could bring the series back to Toronto for Game 6.
Either way, the Maple Leafs are attempting to stay positive during a stretch where it doesn't seem like thinking positive is what they're doing.
"Guys are trying. It's a good team over there that's limiting us," Keefe added on Saturday night. "You can question a lot of things, you can't question the effort."
Related
News from THN.com
While East Teams Romp Through Round 1, Avalanche and Jets Are In a War
