The 29-year-old defenseman had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) during the Maple Leafs playoff run this past spring.
The 29-year-old defenseman had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) during the Maple Leafs playoff run this past spring.
Morgan Rielly offered insight into how he scored his Game 3 overtime winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 29-year-old joined the Jake's Takes Sports Podcast to discuss a number of topics, including his overtime goal in the first round before Toronto finally extricated their playoff demons.
"It was a cool moment," Rielly said of his overtime winner against the Lightning in Game 3.
"Right before that faceoff — we had been doing a lot of plays off won faceoff because of how good John (Tavares) is in the circle, and also Ryan (O'Reilly), they win a lot of faceoffs.
"So we had some set plays and it was late in overtime and (William) Nylander had told me — or I asked him what he wanted to do off the faceoff — what kind of set play he wanted to run, and he said, 'Just stay out,' he's just like, 'Just stay at the top, don't worry about coming down,' and so we had a good laugh about that afterwards because we had tried a lot of different things that hadn't really been working...
"He essentially told me don't worry about it. But the puck came right to me and that was the end of it, so, again, all I really care about was that I was able to contribute in a positive way towards the team and the outcome of the game, that's all."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtFpJ9VWFio[/embed]
Rielly was also asked about the departure of former Maple Leafs GM, and now President of Hockey Operations and GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kyle Dubas.
"I wasn't expecting it," Rielly said. "But, I've gotten used to being surprised, I'll say. I think my first few years, when players got traded who were teammates but also friends when they leave, you're taken aback and then you get used to a new reality type of thing.
"And I think that was the case with Kyle leaving. We don't spend too much time worrying about it now. We're just onward and we're thinking about the next thing. Our group is outstanding and I spent time with Brad (Treliving), with (Sheldon) Keefe and all the staff. I think we're in a great spot.
"At this point, we try to look forward and we're pumped about where we're at and what's going on, so I think everybody feels good now, which is really all that matters."
The 29-year-old, although having a down regular season, had a very strong postseason. Rielly, in 11 games against both Florida and Tampa, put up 12 points (four goals, eight assists), including that overtime winner in Game 3 against the Lightning.
Rielly also played a key role in Tavares' Game 6 series-winning goal by coming down from the point to screen goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Maple Leafs' alternate captain is entering the second year of his eight-year, $60 million deal he signed back in October 2021.
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