Jason Spezza talks killer instinct and learning from past mistakes ahead of Game 6 in Tampa
The common narrative surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs is that they can't seem to get it done when it matters. Well, last night, the Leafs found a way to get it done when it mattered. Now they'll have a chance to prove they can do it again in Game 6 in Tampa to close out the series.
Jason Spezza was one of several Leafs who was with the team last season and had the unfortunate displeasure of blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Montreal Canadiens. The 38-year-old does not want to repeat history and wash out in round one again. That's why, when the Leafs needed someone to step up in Game 5, Spezza did just that, giving a speech before the second period that woke his team up and helped propel them to victory.
We had opportunities last year and we didn't get it done, we know that. Then you get to a Game 7 and anything can happen. We've given ourselves two chances to win a series, but more importantly, there needs to be urgency. A similar urgency to what we had last game to come back from down (2-0), that urgency has to follow us to Tampa.
-Spezza on the Leafs needing to bring their A-game to Tampa on Thursday
Coming up big when the games matter is a sign of killer instinct, something that the Leafs have been accused of lacking for quite some time. As to whether or not the Leafs have developed that killer instinct, Spezza had this to say:
Until you do it, I don't think anybody has it. You try to learn from mistakes from the past, that's what's we're trying to do. But we're also a different group. Guys are at different points in their careers. Guys have matured and also, we have different players in the room. We learned from that, the guys that were here. But also, we've moved forward and this is a new version of the Toronto Maple Leafs that we're trying to move forward.
We'll see whether or not the Leafs have found their killer instinct on Thursday. If they come up short in Tampa, they'll have one last opportunity to close it out in Toronto on Saturday. This team does feel different, but now it's up to them to prove that they truly are different.
| POLL |
MAI 11 | 39 ANSWERS Jason Spezza talks killer instinct and learning from past mistakes ahead of Game 6 in Tampa Will Jason Spezza score a goal in Game 6 for the Leafs? |
| Yes | 19 | 48.7 % |
| No | 9 | 23.1 % |
| Don't care - Just win, baby! | 11 | 28.2 % |
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