Bolstered by Game 3 win, Leafs set sights on levelling series

The Maple Leafs hunkered down for another practice session Wednesday in west-end Toronto, buoyed by their 4-2 victory over Boston in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Bruins. The win cut Boston's series lead to 2-1, and infused Buds players with the sense they could do more than just hang with one of the league's best squads - they could beat them, and tie the series with a win at Air Canada Centre Thursday night.

"It's very crucial," centre Auston Matthews said of a Game 4 win. "We want to make sure we take care of business tomorrow. They won their two at home, we need to do our job and win our two and make it a best-of-three."
"I think we're in a real good spot," added Leafs head coach Mike Babcock. "I think (Game 4) will be the most competitive game so far in this series. Obviously, they're going to be ready to play. Any time you don't win, you want to bounce back hard. We expect their best game, for sure."
After losing by four-goal margins in each of the first two games in Boston, the Leafs took a more disciplined approach - giving the Bruins just one power play - and scored on their own man advantage to take the first lead of the night. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen had to bear down and step up in the third period, stopping 18 Boston shots in the final regulation frame, but the Leafs' scorers made crisp outlet passes, made the most of 2-on-1 rushes, and got contributions from playoff veterans (including forward Patrick Marleau, who scored twice) and relative newcomers (including Matthews, who netted his first of the post-season).
All in all, it was a notable turnaround in Game 3 for Toronto, and Leafs players talked Wednesday about what went right for them and what needed to happen again Thursday to knot the series at two games apiece.
"We were quick on transition, and when we're doing that we're at our best," said winger Mitch Marner, who chipped in a pair of assists in the win. "Hard work, coming back to the puck, talking to our D-men, trying to get open for them quicker - that just makes a big difference when we're coming back and talking and helping out."
"What we're trying to do is spend more time (in Boston's offensive zone)," added Babcock. "A big part of that is you've got to execute clean coming out of your own zone and there's a number of things you've got to do before that happens. If we can spend more time in the O-zone, no different than them, it's hard for the opposition. Whether that be turn-backs, whether that be getting your butt out and being heavy on it and not giving it back, whatever you've got to do within your skill set, you should be doing. Time in the O-zone is important in the series if you want to be effective."
Marleau scored Toronto's second and final goals of Monday's game, and the 38-year-old has delivered everything the Leafs wanted from him when they signed him as an unrestricted free agent last summer. His calm and quiet drive kept the Buds on an even keel whenever the Bruins pushed back in Game 3, and he almost never leaves his teammates in a challenging position when he's driving toward the opposition's end of the rink.
In short, he's a terrific example for Toronto's developing young players, and they're fully aware of what he brings to the rink every day.
"He's one of the fastest guys on the team, he's always moving his feet, he's always aware of the play," Marner said of Marleau. "He's very good at reading the play as well. It's been a lot of fun playing with him. He's got a lot of experience. On and off the ice, he's been a huge mentor."
Another veteran who had an important impact on Game 3 was centre Tomas Plekanec. The 35-year-old had a pair of assists in 17 regular-season games with Toronto after being acquired from Montreal at the trade deadline, but he's found his stride in the post-season, and amassed the most ice time (17:58) in Game 3 since he's worn a Leafs uniform while also adding an assist on Marleau's second goal. His confidence clearly is rising, and his performance at both ends of the rink is making a positive impression on the Buds' coaches and his teammates.
"I think all of us in our life, we want to be important," Babcock said of Plekanec's value at this point in the season. "When you come to a team and you're traded and you're traded to do something different than you've done, I think it's probably harder for you to find your way. For whatever reason, he didn't get that same opportunity and then when he got the opportunity the other night I thought Marner, Marleau and him were really good and effective for us in the game. That's positive for him."
Thursday's showdown promises to be just as, if not more emotional and hard-fought as Monday's game was, but the Leafs expect nothing less from a Bruins squad that has depth, determination and structure. Toronto does as well, and that means the deciding factors will almost assuredly be willpower, a little bit of puck luck, and opportunistic moments that help define a team's season.
If the Leafs emerge with the win Thursday, it's a best-of-three. If they don't, they'll need to reel off three straight wins to avoid elimination. Either scenario gets the blood pumping, but Toronto's players want it pumping with positive momentum.
"Yeah, equal amount of importance on this game," blueliner Morgan Rielly said of Game 4. "It's important that we get ready. We've done what we have to do over the past two days to be ready. A big game coming up for us."
"All you do is you learn that they're competitive people that have real good hockey sense, that make good plays and like to win," Babcock said of Boston's best players, but he may as well have been referring to the entire Bruins team. "That's why those guys are going to be better next game. They've been through it all. The experience, they're going to respond. In the same way, isn't that what this is all about? This is all about growing your group here and having a great opportunity. We're playing in our barn, there's going to be a great crowd - the national anthem was unbelievable the other night, just scary good - then we got off to a good start. We need to do the same. They're going to be good."