Morgan Rielly speaks about tonight's Game 6 and the importance of closing out the series

Like Rielly said, this team knows what happens when you don't close out a series early. The Leafs have had the chance to close out teams prior to a seventh game three times in the last three years. Once against Boston in 2019, and two last year against the Montreal Canadiens.

In 2019, the Leafs were up in the series three games to two, headed back home for game six. The Leafs took an early lead in the game, but a holding penalty by Tyler Ennis (former Leaf forward) midway through the first period led to a Bruins Powerplay goal and seemed to suck the energy out of the Leafs and the home crowd. The Bruins never looked back, going on to outshot the Leafs 41 - 24 and winning the game 4 - 2. The Bruins, of course, went on to win the series in game seven. But many Maple Leaf fans looked at game six as the missed opportunity.

Then last season, the Leafs had two chances to close out the Montreal Canadiens. But two overtime losses led the Leafs to another game seven, and ultimately. another series loss.

When any series goes to a game seven, anything can happen. And given Tampa Bay's playoff pedigree, even with the Leafs having home ice advantage, that game would be a coin-flip. The Leafs can avoid all that with a win tonight.