Leafs fans on edge as team looks to dispel two decades of playoff letdowns

Could tonight finally be the night?

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been waiting 19 years to celebrate a playoff series victory — the team has a chance to move on to the second round with a Thursday night win.

The Leafs come home with a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven first round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning after putting together back-to-back thrilling victories on the road.

The team completed two epic comebacks to force overtime in games 3 and 4 down in Florida. Morgan Rielly and Alex Kerfoot scored OT winners to give Toronto a two-game cushion over Tampa.

You could forgive the fanbase for their apprehension. The Leafs previously held a 3-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadians in the 2020 playoffs. The Leafs lost three straight elimination games to lose the series in seven games. That series with Montreal was played in the Toronto bubble with limited fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Leafs sport an 0-10 record over the last five years in playoff elimination games. The franchise has not won a playoff series since 2004.

Maple Leafs/Lightning Game 5 is on Sportsnet. Puck drop is just after 7 p.m.

Keefe staying with same lineup for Game 5

All signs point to head coach Sheldon Keefe staying with the same lineup on Thursday despite the availability of forward Michael Bunting, returning from suspension after an illegal hit.

“We’re just comfortable with the group that’s been working here, and has won three games in a row,” Keefe said. The coach said he does expect Bunting be in the lineup again at some point.

Bunting played in all 82 regular season games this year but was forced out of the first-round series following a hit to the head of Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak in Game 1. Cernak has not played in the series since the hit and is expected to remain out in Game 5.

“There’s a lot more games to be played, and I’ll be in them,” said Bunting, adding he will continue to be a good teammate and wait for his turn.

Rookie Matthew Knies entered the lineup in replace of Bunting and has been promoted to a top six ahead of Game 5. He is expected to start the game on a line with captain John Tavares and Mitch Marner.

“It means a lot,” said Knies. “Two special players who have unreal experience in the league and are terrific, complete players. So, it’s a privilege and a pleasure to play with those guys.”

Leafs practice lines ahead of Game 5:

Jarnkrok-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-Tavares-Marner
Kerfoot-O’Reilly-Acciari
AstonReese-Kampf-Lafferty
Extras: Bunting, Simmonds

McCabe-Brodie
Giordano-Holl
Rielly-Schenn
Gustafsson-Liljegren
Mete-Timmins

Samsonov
Woll
Kallgren

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) April 26, 2023

Police presence, traffic disruptions as fans pack Maple Leafs Square

Fans hoping to witness history will pack a sold out Scotiabank Arena as well as the outdoor viewing party outside at Maple Leafs Square.

The gates to Maple Leaf Square at York Street and Bremner Blvd. will open at 5 p.m. and close at the end of the second intermission. MLSE is asking fans to register for a free mobile pass on the team’s app to be granted access.

Toronto police say there will be a visible police presence in the area surrounding Scotiabank Arena to ensure public safety and minimize disruption. Police continue to warn drivers about road closures in the area, and are encouraging fans to take transit or carpool.

Leaf fans big and small-like pup Zidane -will pack Maple Leaf Square again tonight for game 5. A win means Leafs move on to second round of playoffs for first time since 2004. Weather will be clear skies/+9C so no raincoat required. There will be extra police out on crowd control pic.twitter.com/dWtWeqSlOa

— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) April 27, 2023

Bremner and York will only allow local traffic during the game and drivers will also face restrictions on Blue Jays Way, Lower Simcoe Street and Rees Street.

Gas pipeline replacement work has now shut down two westbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard approaching Rees. The city says there will be traffic agents deployed to the area during construction who will monitor congestion.