Leaf notes: Toronto hardly alone in confronting its playoff demons

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The Maple Leafs aren’t alone in this series where the ghost of playoffs’ past might lurk.

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Boston has the right to feel more confident, beating Toronto in the last three series since 2013, all in Game 7’s, and in six overall sets since 1959. But there is enormous pressure on the Bruins after following their league record 65 wins last spring with a first-round loss to eighth-seed Florida.

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“Looking back, we definitely looked at going on a long run and preparing for a long run instead just looking day-to-day,” captain Brad Marchand told media in Boston. “It’s definitely a lesson we can learn and build upon.”

And while the 2011 B’s are etched on the band of the Stanley Cup, other than getting the best of Toronto in a hat trick of elimination games, their record in a winner-take-all match is 0-4 including a Cup final defeat to St. Louis in 2019, while losing the ’13 championship in six to Chicago.

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“I think our players seem to be more in the moment this year,” coach Jim Montgomery said.

Ending a seven-year stretch of first-round losses in 2023 does give the Leafs a little psychological boost.

“The feeling is good, it’s a new year, different team,” said winger Calle Jarnkrok after Friday’s practice.

 
STARS MUST SHINE 

Viewed from afar, playoff production from Toronto’s ‘Core Four’ forwards, three of whom have now appeared in 50 games, doesn’t jive with only winning that one series in seven years.

In 50 games. Mitch Marner leads with 10 goals and 37 assists for 47 points, Auston Matthews, 22-22-44 and William Nylander 17-23-40. Since he arrived for the 2019 playoffs and missed six games of the ’21 tournament, John Tavares has 22 points in 31 games. Defenceman Morgan Rielly, in his 50 games, has a mark of 11-26-37.

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What’s let the big-name Leafs down is lack of clutch goals. They are 6-11 in overtime since 2013, with one winner each from Matthews and Tavares. Matthews didn’t score any kind of goal in five games against the Panthers in Round 2 last year.

Matthews was also held off the board in his last two games earlier this week, ending his quest for 70 goals. Keefe says that shouldn’t take anything away from his career year and expects that the best season by an NHL scorer in almost 30 years will carry into this series.

“The sky’s the limit, right? He’s shown that, he’s playing well, feeling good. The quick turnaround to the playoffs should benefit someone like Auston who has been in such a great groove.

“It’s a different time of year and he will be a focal point for the opposition. It will be exciting to watch, but our team game is most important, how everyone supports

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SAMMY SETS THE TABLE 

Any jitters the Leafs have before big games are usually soothed around the dressing room by Ilya Samsonov, the anticipated starter on Saturday.

Samsonov didn’t play the last two games, in favour of Joseph Woll and Martin Jones and says he’s prepared for David Pastrnak, Marchand or whatever unwanted traffic gets into his blue paint and indicated he had a good talk with the coaching staff Friday on mental prep to keep his emotions in check.

“It’s playoffs, everybody goes to the net,” Samsonov said. “Everybody is so excited,” Samsonov said. “This is the most interesting time of the year.

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“(Last year) I was happy to help for the first round against Tampa. For this year, we want to fight more for a Stanley Cup.”

 LOOSE LEAFS 

Toronto lost all four games to Boston this season: “We learned what didn’t work,” quipped Keefe – and are in a three-game regular season losing streak at TD Garden. Its last victory there was March 29, 2022, a 6-4 decision in which Jason Spezza set up Colin Blackwell for the opening goal … Former Leaf general manager Kyle Dubas, who missed the playoffs with his new team in Pittsburgh, has some consolation. He’ll assist GM Rick Nash for Team Canada at the world championships, May 10-26 in Czechia … The 16 previous series between Boston and Toronto have produced eight Game 1 shutouts, five by the Bruins, all at old Boston Garden. Turk Broda had the last bagel for the Leafs to open the in 1951 semi-finals … There could be three Saturday night games in this series if it goes the distance … Marner enters playoffs two points from tying Borje Salming for 12th place in franchise post-season production … Newly signed D Cade Webber practiced with the Leafs on Friday wearing No. 52, but that’s his limit of activity … The Marlies have two home games remaining this weekend before playoffs, both against the Lake Erie Monsters. Matt Murray will likely get one of the starts as his conditioning stint ends.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby     

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