Forslund's preparation for each game he calls is legend itself among peers and co-workers: He wakes at 5:30 a.m. on game days to work out, eat breakfast, watch highlights and do his final research, which consumes at least four hours and produces a flurry of neatly penned, tiny handwritten notes (to fit more) in one tall notebook and a spiraled steno pad, the latter with highlighted sections. Here are some of his notes for the Toronto-Tampa Bay showdown:
"There is a team facing elimination for the first time in this series," says Forslund, "and it's the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, but Tampa Bay comes home for Game 6 with the pedigree of a record of 17-0 [in the last 17 postseason games] after a playoff loss. The Lightning are going to lean into that ... and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been in net for all 17 wins."
"This is a tough series to read when you look at the wide disparity of scores in the four games, it's hard to get a read on who is the better team." Forslund's notebook is filled with points about lower-than-usual 5-on-5 play in the series to date-and the higher than normal amount of 4-on-4 situations.
More from the notebook: Auston Matthews is playing big, scoring the game-winning goal in Game 5 while recording seven hits. Maple Leafs got production from William Nylander and John Tavares to supplement "big guns" Matthews and playmaker Mitch Marner (2G, 5A in 5 games).
Matthews was named a finalist for the NHL's Hart Trophy to designate the league's most valuable player for the 2021-22 season. Edmonton superstar center Connor McDavid and New York Rangers goalie sensation Igor Shesterkin are the other two finalists. "Matthews gets my vote," said Forslund.
Forslund says former Kraken regulars, defenseman and captain Mark Giordano and forward Colin Blackwell, have been solid contributors to Toronto's 3-2 lead in the series, bidding to win the Maple Leafs first playoff series since 2004.
"Colin Blackwell is centering Toronto's fourth line and doing everything he has been called to do in limited work. He played five minutes in Game 5 but he was impactful. He has a goal in the series and is doing all the little things we saw him do skating for the Kraken.
"Giordano has delivered as advertised for the Maple Leafs. He is the best anchor for the 5-6 [third] pairing that Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe could ever want. He spent years playing top-four minutes and is a real good partner for defenseman Justin Holl, who has been good in the series-along with all of the Toronto defensemen.
"Mark has done an excellent job setting down that defensive group, and he's being used in all situations, including the penalty kill and power play."
