‘Pressure is a privilege’: Maple Leafs look to turn the page on past playoff woes

Toronto Maple Leafs playoff hockey is back.

The blue and white will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night in game one of their first round playoff series — the team and its fans once again hoping to make it past the first round for the first time in nearly 20 years.

A tailgate party will be held in Maple Leafs Square and it’s also ‘Blue and White Day’ in the city with fans being encouraged to show up to work or school with their Maple Leafs gear.

Puck drop is just after 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet.

Playoff rematch with Tampa Bay

Same opponent, different result. That’s what Leafs fans are hoping for.

Many pundits have Toronto finally getting over the hump in this year’s playoff rematch with the Lightning — the same team that came back from 3-2 series deficit and bounced them in seven games last year.

The Lightning have represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final the last three years, winning the cup in 2020 and 2021. The team struggled through parts of this season with some speculating their age and the sheer amount of hockey the team has played over the past few seasons could be catching up to them.

General Manager Kyle Dubas and the Leafs front office made several moves at the trade deadline with an aim to give this year’s team a different look. Some experts believe the players acquired, namely forward Ryan O’Reilly and defenceman Jake McCabe, have given the Leafs a deeper and meaner lineup than at any point during the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era.

“Only an idiot bets against the Lightning,” said Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast. “That said, Toronto should have beaten them last year. And I think Toronto should beat them this year.”

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is paying it forward by having rookie Matthew Knies live in his basement. Also, William Nyland swaps PP spots with Ryan O'Reilly.@lukefoxjukebox has the story. https://t.co/NTkjG7ahbq

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 17, 2023

A big point of hesitation for Toronto fans is the continually evolving situation in goal. The Lightning will have Andrei Vasilevskiy, arguably the best NHL goalie of the last decade, between the pipes. Vasilevskiy has backstopped the team to three straight Stanley Cup finals.

Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov was solid during the regular season and took hold of the number one job while Matt Murray struggled to stay healthy. He will start for the Leafs in game one. Samsonov has only one playoff win in seven career starts.

“He’s earned this job through his health and through his performance” says Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “He’s had a fantastic year.”

Fresh out of college forward prospect Matthew Knies debuted for the Leafs last week during their final regular season games. Early indication is he will not start the first playoff game.

What the team is saying

Head coach Sheldon Keefe on the pressure surrounding the team as they try to escape the first round for the first time since 2004:

“The pressure is a privilege. There’s a lot of teams that are not playing hockey at this time of year. They have no privilege or opportunity to compete in the playoffs.”

Defenceman Morgan Reilly on the emotions leading up to puck drop of game one:

“It’s a little bit of everything, it just depends on the time of day. Right now we’re excited, we feel ready. We believe in our group so we’re looking forward at getting going.”

“We’re confident in what we have. It’s a new year, it’s a new opportunity. All we can do right now is worrying about going out there and playing a good game.”

Forward Ryan O’Reilly was acquired by Dubas in a blockbuster trade in February. He won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the team’s most valuable playoff player.

O’Reilly on the pressure of playing playoff hockey in Toronto:

“There’s always pressure. Especially here, this is the mecca of hockey and always such an intense place to play. We aren’t those teams from last year, we have to find our own way.”

Blue and White Day in TO

Toronto is marking the first day of the Leafs playoff run by declaring it ‘Blue and White Day’ in the city.

Deputy mayor Jennifer McKelvie made the proclamation on Monday by raising the team’s flag at city hall, alongside Leafs legend Darryl Sittler and Carlton the Bear.

Tomorrow, our @MapleLeafs play in their first playoffs game and we'll officially mark Blue and White Day in Toronto!

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to join Darryl Sittler and @CarltonTheBear to raise the Leafs flag at City Hall and wish our Leafs well!#GoLeafsGO pic.twitter.com/BOrp87YuFU

— Jennifer McKelvie (@McKelvieTO) April 17, 2023

Tailgate parties back at Maple Leaf Square

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) confirmed last week that fans would once again be able to gather outside Scotiabank Arena in Maple Leaf Square to watch on the big screen during home and away postseason games.

The outdoor viewing parties will include special guests, giveaways, live music, and more. The gates to Maple Leaf Square at York Street and Bremner Boulevard will open two hours before the start of each game and close at the end of the second intermission.

“Fans will be required to register for a free mobile pass to be granted access,” said MLSE. “New this year, mobile passes will be distributed and managed only on the Toronto Maple Leafs mobile app.”

MLSE says the passes will be made available the day before each game. Each fan will have access to a maximum of four passes, but residents can get early access by signing up to the team’s app.

Police are warning drivers there will be a number of pre-and post-game road closures in the area during playoff games, and are encouraging fans to take transit or carpool.

First round playoff schedule

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Tuesday, April 18: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC)
Thursday, April 20: at Toronto, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC)
Saturday, April 22: at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC)
Monday, April 24: at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC)
*Thursday, April 27: at Toronto
*Saturday, April 29: at Tampa Bay
*Monday, May 1: at Toronto