Sheldon Keefe drops a great quote, showing where the Leafs are at mentally ahead of their playoff series against Tampa
The Leafs rolled into Tampa Bay on Monday night for what many were penciling in as a surefire loss. The Buds healthy scratched Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, Mark Giordano and Ilya Samsonov. They started a rookie goalie in Joseph Woll and had a junior goaltender backing him up on an ATO. They dressed defenseman Conor Timmins as a forward. All signs pointed to this one being a throwaway game. Only, it wasn't.
The Leafs took the lead in the first period, with the Bolts responding shortly thereafter. However, instead of buckling under the pressure, or just allowing the Lightning back into the game, they restored the lead at the 16:01 mark of the 1st period on a Luke Schenn goal, who also fought friend and former teammate Pat Maroon in the game. When Tampa responded again at the start of the 2nd, the Leafs, again, responded and regained the lead, thanks to a power play goal by Calle Jarnkrok. This time, they would not relinquish the lead, as Ryan O'Reilly added an insurance marker, assisted by rookie Matthew Knies, who nearly scored himself, holding on for a 4-3 victory.
Following the game, Sheldon Keefe expressed to the media how impressed he was with the Leafs' effort in Tampa, not quitting, despite the fact that the game was not of any import to either team. Keefe felt as though the team was showing where their collective mindset is right before the playoffs, which is to play the right way and win.
The Buds have one last game remaining on their schedule, against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. It would be fantastic to see them pick up a win there as well as 2nd place in the league is still very much up for grabs. If the Devils and Hurricanes both lose their final game and the Leafs can beat the Rangers in any fashion, they'll finish the season 2nd only to the record-setting Boston Bruins.
