"But we're going to have to make it one (Sunday)".
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) reacts to a goal, next to teammates Morgan Rielly (44) and Zach Hyman (11), during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday, April 8, 2017. For Leaf veterans such as van Riemsdyk, 27, who's been with the team since 2012, or even Morgan Rielly, who is in his fifth season at the age of 23, it's been an enjoyable ride watching this young team, with eight rookies on the roster, quickly grasp what it takes to succeed in the National Hockey League. "They're not going to believe me and then it's going to happen".
We've known for awhile now that these Maple Leafs aren't the ones of years past. "It's a matter of doing it consistently and doing it the right way".
Getting out-of-town score updates during intermission, the Washington Capitals coasted to a 2-0 loss against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night that had more to do with preparing for the playoffs than winning the regular-season finale. Rielly admitted there were times it was no fun reporting for work. "I think coaches are allowing them to play and I think you get a better brand of hockey". "But it's all part of the grind".
"So we did it".
He has not scored a goal since, a stretch that has included five playoff games and all 79 games he has appeared in this season. With rookie wunderkinds Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in tow, this Toronto team just felt different to the ones from years past. But full credit goes to the Leafs' rookie trio, especially Matthews, who was dominant all season long. "Now they've finished it (with a playoff spot)".
In the NHL's version of the Hunger Games, the odds are not in Toronto's favour. No one will be surprised if Marner or Nylander are finalists behind Matthews. Chicago, meanwhile, will get the Predators in round one.
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Mike Babcock promised "pain" when he was hired as the Leafs head coach in May 2015, but that pain was really short-lived. It's a great time to be a Toronto sports fan.
The schedule will be announced shortly, but the first game will be in Washington in a few days, and we know what to say: Go Leafs Go. That, too, played into their success. Setting up the goal, William Nylander set a new team rookie record with his 26th power-play point of the year. "Being around everyone on a day-to-day basis is often an area where you have to be comfortable. There's been moments where we've got a good thing going, we're all committed to working towards the same goal and it's a good feeling".
If you were writing a script for how this game would play out for the 'same-old Leafs,' a goal from former Leaf Phil Kessel, a Bryan McCabe/Dave Ellett-esque own-goal courtesy of the club's lightning-rod defenceman, and a devastating injury to their Most Valuable Player in goaltender Frederik Andersen - all but ensuring the completion of another 18-wheeler collapse tomorrow against Columbus - would've covered all the bases.
January 3: Toronto 5, Washington 6, OT: Holtby was pulled after the first period, and the Maple Leafs had a 4-2 lead after a wild 40 minutes. They played inspired hockey for most of the season and are a true wild card in these playoffs.
The Leafs enter the playoffs with some injury issues and some questions about the fitness of Andersen and now Nikita Zaitsev and Roman Polak as well.
"The most fun time of the year is right now, you want to be playing, and we have earned the right to play and now let's get ready for the playoffs". "Once you get in, anything can happen".
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