The Toronto Maple Leafs to the surprise of many of their devoted and cynical fans, covered with scar tissue from numerous playoff disappointments, hold a 2-0 lead in the Battle of Ontario against the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs surrendered a 2-0 first-period lead in Game 2 on Tuesday, but won 3-2 on Max Domi’s game-winner at 3:09 into overtime.
The Leafs have the opportunity to take a commanding lead in the series and put the Sens on the brink of elimination, but after playing undisciplined and frankly stupid hockey in a one-sided loss in Game 1, Ottawa played much more under control and took only one minor in Game 2.
Ottawa did not have Ridly Greig and Nick Jensen on the ice at their morning skate on Thursday, but both are expected to play. Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not resort to superstition in changing up his roster for Game 3 on Thursday, as Toronto will make one change, inserting veteran winger Max Pacioretty in place of Nick Robertson. With the Senators getting the last change, Berube is wise to put the bigger and more experienced Pacioretty in the lineup, even though he has not played since before the Four Nations break in early February.
“(Max is) a veteran guy, (he’s) coming into a game here. It’s going to be tough here with the crowd. Just wanted to make that change (to) a bigger/heavier guy.” Berube said. “It’s tough (to come back), but he’s handled it fairly well. You can’t control a lot of things that happen. For sure, he wanted to be in there, but he’s got the opportunity here.”
Robertson scored 15 goals in a depth role in 69 games, but has been watched closely by the coaching staff, especially when he takes careless penalties. The 23-year-old’s second-period penalty gave Ottawa life in Game 2, as Brady Tkachuk scored on the power play to narrow the Leafs lead to 2-1. The line of Domi, Robertson, and Bobby McMann was on the ice for Adam Gaudette’s tying goal, so the addition of Pacioretty should shore up that line’s defense and provide more snarl and physicality.
It will be important for the Leafs to weather an early storm from the Senators, who will be desperate to mimic what Toronto did in the first two games in jumping out to an early lead and setting a tone for the games.
Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends. I’m so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside!!!!