Two Leafs stars comment on the mood in the room following blowout loss
The Toronto Maple Leafs can't press the panic button just yet but losing 7-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 was most definitely not the start to the series they were expecting. The Lightning limped their way into the post-season after having lost 4 consecutive games - including one to the Maple Leafs - before winning their season finale. They were outscored 21 to 11 in those 4 losses, while the Maple Leafs had won 4 in a row and 5 of their last 6.
Penalties, goaltending, and suspect defense cost Toronto home-ice advantage in the series. Of course the Michael Bunting match penalty was heard around the world but allowing 4 power play goals on 8 attempts will almost never help you to win you any game, no matter the opposition.
Two stars of the team took to the media on Wednesday to discuss how the team feels after Tuesday's blowout loss, what they need to do to improve, and how they feel heading into game 2:
Mitch Marner on what was the root cause of the loss and how they are going to approach game 2 and beyond:
"Undisciplined, letting that power play get rolling was a bad thing to do... we gotta protect our net better as well and just play a better defensive game. That wasn't the start you wanted, we tried to emphasize this year to get on our toes to start games and we didn't do that [on Tuesday]. It's a new slate now, looking to game 2 now. We're all happy to be here, we're all grateful to be with this organization, this team, so that's how you look at it every day." - Marner on the temperature in the Leafs' locker room after Game 1
William Nylander chimed in as well, not only believing in himself and the team but reiterating that they are not panicking after one awful game:
"We're down one game and we know that we need to play a lot better... Everyone knows what we're able to do in here... I think we're kind of relaxed." - Nylander on where the team is at mentally ahead of Game 2
Sheldon Keefe trying to keep a calm, cool, and collected approach heading into Game 2:
"You have a meeting, you have a practice, good chance to rinse everything out and get in a better frame of mind.... You don't feel good about the effort or results you got last night but you brush yourself off and you get back to work today. We weren't anywhere near ourselves yesterday." - Sheldon Keefe on the team putting Game 1 behind them and focusing on getting reset
The Leafs' most dangerous opponent isn't Tampa in this series - it's the Leafs themselves. If they can't start on time, play a composed game and capitalize on their chances, it's going to be another very long summer, and they'll have only themselves to blame.
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