The Toronto Maple Leafs must rise to the occasion tonight, just as they did after falling 1-0 to start the series as they face their most important test of the season.
Last night, Toronto showed snippets of what can be expected of a dominant team, but allowed Columbus to claw back into the game with dramatic flare. If there is to be a winner-take-all Game Five, Toronto has to play a complete team game, for all three periods tonight.
Head Coach Sheldon Keefe spoke with the media on Friday afternoon regarding the reset his team needs after a quick turnaround from last night's heartbreaker. "Today's a new day, a new opportunity for us to push back and get back on track." He praised the team's play in Game One and Two, and said that any future success will depend on getting back into that style of play and having the right mental toughness to do so. "The work for that is done in advance. We get a chance today to utilize it."
Toronto will face Elvis Merzlikins in goal tonight, who stopped all 21 shots he faced on Thursday after relieving Joonas Korpisalo midway through the second period. It will mark the 26-year-old's first NHL playoff start, potentially an opportunity to cash in on any nerves he might face.
Toronto's lethal offense has been finding ways to top Columbus' ridgid defense with increasing success after being shut-out for the first 4+ periods of the series. With that confidence building throughout the series, there's no better time to see an explosion of offense for the Leafs.
Toronto has all the right cards to win the hand. Top talent on offense, solid shut-down defending, and a goaltender ready to make an impact in the big moments. Now all that's left is how you prepare to play the hand. And tonight, it's all-in.
