http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/917809219517
Game 2 preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals
Toronto native Wilson enjoys being the villain.
https://www.thestar.com/sports/leaf...ronto-maple-leafs-at-washington-capitals.html
By Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Fri., April 14, 2017
Capitals lead best-of-seven series 1-0
VERIZON CENTRE
FACEOFF: Saturday, 7 p.m.
TV: CBC
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
THE CAPITALS
Tom Wilson’s overtime goal was his first career playoff goal (29 GP) and first career overtime goal (regular season and playoffs, 342 GP). Teammate Brett Connolly believes the 23-year-old Toronto native relishes being the bad guy to his hometown. “He’s probably so excited to go in there and be the villain and just do his thing. He’s kind of had to do that to stay in the league at a young age.†. . . Goalie Braden Holtby extended his franchise record with his 23rd career playoff victory. He owns a 1.87 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and four shutouts in 47 career playoff appearances.
THE LEAFS
Nikita Zaitsev did not skate Friday and will not play in Game 2 . . . Mitch Marner scored 1:35 into his playoff debut, marking the fastest goal by a Maple Leafs player to begin his post-season career since Andy Blair also scored 1:35 into his debut on March 19, 1929 at Detroit . . . James van Riemsdyk led the Maple Leafs with seven shots on goal and 10 shot attempts in Game 1 . . . Tyler Bozak was credited with seven hits in the opener. “That might have doubled his hits for the whole year,†van Riemsdyk said.
DID YOU KNOW?
Teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 305-48 (86.4 per cent).
UP NEXT
Game 3, Monday, at Air Canada Centre, 7 p.m
Mike Babcock’s lesson for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2: Just shoot the puck
Lance Hornby, Postmedia Network | April 14, 2017 4:27 PM ET
More from Postmedia Network
http://news.nationalpost.com/sports...nto-maple-leafs-in-game-2-just-shoot-the-puck
WASHINGTON – No, Nazem Kadri did not interfere with Braden Holtby before the second Toronto goal in Game 1, but Kadri had the right idea when it comes to defeating the Washington Capitals goaltender: Get close enough to Holtby to see the stars and stripes on his mask.
Upon further review of Thursday’s opener of the best-of-seven first-round NHL playoff series, generating shots and rebounds was the most disappointing aspect of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 overtime loss.
Now, the Leafs will have to work harder than ever for goals against Holtby, the Jennings Trophy winner, and to crack the red wall of defence in front of him.
“In order to score on a rebound, you have to have that first shot, get the puck to the (blue) paint,†Leafs coach Mike Babcock said Friday after the team held an optional skate. “In playoffs, all you have to do is watch the games, night in, night out, even if you’re not a hockey fan. If you don’t get to the net, you’re not going to score. (Goalies), they’re too dialed in, they’re too big, they’re too good, so you have to get to the net.
“I thought we passed up a ton of opportunities to shoot (Thursday). … At playoff time there is no better play. Get it to the net, get people to the net and shoot the pill.â€
Maple Leafs learned playoff lessons the hard way in Game 1
David Shoalts
WASHINGTON — The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Apr. 14, 2017 7:46PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Apr. 14, 2017 7:46PM EDT
The Toronto Maple Leafs came out flying and hitting in their first playoff game but wound up learning the hardest lesson in the ultimate school of hard knocks, the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Now, instead of the Washington Capitals having to spend two nights fretting about blowing a playoff game and the franchise’s reputation for postseason flops, it is the young Maple Leafs who have to think about a missed opportunity. More food for thought heading into Saturday night’s second game of their first-round NHL playoff series is that even one mistake in a playoff game will kill you, let alone two. You also have to be careful of everyone on the ice because NHL history is full of unlikely heroes, such as Caps fourth-liner Tom Wilson, who scored the winning goal in overtime in the series opener.
Capitals head coach Barry Trotz made it clear his team knows it dodged a bullet in Game 1.
“There’s a saying in the coaching fraternity, ‘It’s not always what you get it’s what you leave,’†Trotz said Friday. “What you leave sometimes are opportunities for the other team. I thought early in the game we left them lots of opportunities, and we were fortunate that they didn’t capitalize on as many as we did. And then they gave us some opportunities, we earned some opportunities and we were able to capitalize on a couple.
Capitals get 'wake-up call' from Maple Leafs in Game 1
[Puck Daddy]
Justin Cuthbert
Puck DaddyApr 14, 2017, 1
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/capitals-get-wake-call-maple-leafs-game-1-050456411.html?src=rss
Barry Trotz’s smirk said it all.
The Washington Capitals coach spoke with a certain satisfaction after his group — one fitted directly under the microscope after many premature exits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — was forced to claw back from a two-goal deficit and work into overtime to upend the eighth-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Game 1 of their opening-round series on Thursday night.
Perhaps a gauge on Trotz’s blood temperature would tell a different story, but based on his session with the media, it was almost like if he had the choice, he would welcome that adversity all over again.
“It was a really good wake-up call for us,†Trotz said. “You get in the playoffs and there are no easy games. The Leafs were well prepared. They’re a good hockey team. Their kids are exceptional talents. They can play. You gotta play them hard.â€
He added: “I know we have another level, so itâ€s great that we had the start that we had and we were able to come out on the positive end. We can build on that.â€
