‘This Group is Far From Finished’, Maple Leafs Put Focus on Game 4 Ahead Playoff Series Hole
With the odds stacked against them and pressure as tight as ever, the Toronto maple Leafs are trying to push against the forces against them. But will it work?
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Morgan Rielly was one of a handful of Toronto Maple Leafs who addressed the media from a hotel lobby on Wednesday ahead of their game against the Florida Panthers and offered some perspective ahead of Game 4.
“We’re here and we’re fighting and we’re not going to go down easy,” the longest-tenured defenseman said. “There’s lots of other teams that aren’t playing right now that would do anything to be in our position so we have to take advantage of that.”
Indeed the Leafs are one of eight teams that have a chance at winning the Stanley Cup and that isn’t something to scoff at. But entering their series as favorites to win the Cup to having the script flipped with three consecutive losses and a 3-0 series deficit is the a serious drop from the highs of winning their first playoff series in 19 years.
The pressure is heavy. A series sweep would result in a consideration of changes at every level, from management to Toronto’s core players.
But on Wednesday morning, the team pushed back against any notion that the series is over.
“This group is far from finished in terms of approach and mentality,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said.
The Panthers were a collected bunch and have already overcome their own adversity this season. Following a 2021-22 regular season in which they finished with the best record, a second-round sweep forced change within the club. They parted with offensive star Jonathan Huberdeau and acquired Mattthew Tkachuk. They struggled to punch their playoff ticket this season, but managed to do so after going on a run at end of the 2022-23 season.
Staring a 3-1 first-round deficit against a powerhouse Boston Bruins , the Panthers battled back to win the series and have not lost a game since.
It’s become a battle of wills between Florida and Toronto and Game 4 and it will come down to the ability to close or the ability to fight.
“Whoever wants it more, I think that’s a huge part of it,” Luke Schenn said. “It’s why it is so hard. It’s little details like winning pucks at the blue line and winning battles in front of the net. Getting there first. That’s why it’s so challenging and that’s why there’s only one left to do it in the end. It’s tough and that’s why the good teams do it.”
Toronto can draw on some inspiration from teammate Jake Muzzin. Out for the season with a cervical spine issue, Muzzin has been with the club on a daily basis to help in different capacities. Perhaps the best perspective he can provide is the fact that he was on one of four teams in NHL history to actually pull off winning a series down 3-0.
But whatever push Toronto has left, it’s about finding where they can find that belief in themselves
“A number of different ways,” Rielly said of where you can draw inspiration. “Teams of the past. Players of the past. Talking to family members. Talking to people that have the belief in you and the group. There’s a million stories out there of teams that have come back and players that have beaten adversity.
“Whatever works for your it’s important just to get your mind right and ready to go.”
The pressure is immense. A first-round series victory seemed like enough to cool things down. But the shock of the current situation Toronto finds themselves in has turned up the pressure. A hard-fought series loss would have been acceptable.
But a sweep? That could be a disaster.
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