Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe doesn’t predict whether that will happen, but he feels his team will play with desperation. After all, there has been enough practice to do just that.
“In my mind, we just played two Game 7s,” Keefe said, referring to Toronto’s do-or-die wins in Games 5 and 6.
Notably, they won the game without center Auston Matthews and his 69 regular season goals in the lineup. And if his undisclosed illness lingers, they may have to do it again.
Matthews skated for about four minutes in the morning in Toronto ahead of Game 5 on Tuesday before walking off the ice and deciding it was no good. He skated alone on a practice pad inside the Maple Leafs’ facility on Wednesday and was working at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, but did not play.
Cue William Nylander.
For the Maple Leafs to be successful, their top players will need to step up, especially if Matthews is unavailable again.
Just as captain John Tavares made a powerful cut into the Bruins’ net in Game 5, setting up Matthew Kunese’s goal in overtime and giving Toronto a 2-1 victory.
And just like Nylander did in Game 6.
The speedy winger, who missed the first three games of the series due to an undisclosed illness, scored two goals against Toronto, was dynamic throughout and shed any rust that appeared to be lingering over the past two games. .
Nylander hasn’t scored since March 26, but he tends to come through in key moments during the postseason, scoring seven goals in elimination games in his career.
“I’m glad I was able to come out and definitely score two goals,” Nylander said. “But I think the team effort, the way we fought and competed throughout the 60 minutes, was incredible for us as well.”