Events in Toronto weigh heavily on Maple Leafs
Tragedy provides motivation during gritty must-win effort over Boston
TORONTO The van attack in Toronto on Monday afternoon that resulted in 10 deaths and 15 injuries gave the Maple Leafs heavy hearts in the hours leading up to their pivotal Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.
For those who grew up in the city — all the Leafs, of course — the news was difficult to process.
“It’s such a tragedy and it’s terrible,” said winger Connor Brown, a Toronto native. “You see all the people come together in a moment of silence before the game and to kind of unite a city after something like that is special, but it was a tough day.”
There was extra motivation for the Leafs.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Brown said. “That’s the power of sport. It brings people together and something like that happens, you need to come together.”
Said Zach Hyman, also Torontoborn and raised: “You see it all over the news and you don’t expect it to happen in your city. It’s scary and my heart goes out to all the victims and their families. Just sad.”
Coach Mike Babcock said the incident was a point of discussion in the room and among coaches before the game.
“Senseless deaths, to say the least,” a subdued Babcock said after the game. “Changes the new normal in a family’s life forever, whether it be no mom, no dad, no brother, no sister.
“We’re fortunate to live in such a fantastic city with great first responders and the work they have done. So important that we rally around these people.”
The Leafs were better than they were in Game 5, beating the Bruins 3-1 to force Game 7 in Boston, which goes on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
While Frederik Andersen again had to be terrific — the Bruins had 62 shot attempts to the Leafs’ 33 while the clubs played five-on-five — there was resolve in the Leafs that was required to ensure a flight back to Boston became part of the plans on Tuesday.
“Those are the games you dream about playing in as a kid,” Hyman said. “You always want a Game 7. As a fan you watch and look at all the series and you’re like ‘I hope this one goes to seven.’
“Those are the games everybody wants to watch, games everybody wants to play in and those are the games that make or break you.”
POINT SHOTS
Looking forward to watching the 21-year-old Jake DeBrusk develop as his NHL career progresses. He’s smart and physical, and he gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead early in the second period after Auston Matthews lost a faceoff against David Krejci … These Leafs don’t wilt, so there was William Nylander, with his first of the playoffs, tying the game 35 seconds after DeBrusk’s goal on a large rebound off a Nikita Zaitsev shot … With the game tied 1-1, the Leafs thought they had taken a 2-1 lead at 3:04 of the second period when Hyman slipped the puck under Rask after Matthews did most of the work. The Bruins challenged, claiming goaltender interference, and they were proven right as replays showed Hyman knocked the stick out of Rask’s hand. Though the goal did not count, the Bruins could not swing momentum in their own favour. And though goalie interference calls have been inconsistent — at best — across the NHL this season, that reversal was hard to argue … Neither Patrice Bergeron nor Brad Marchand are perfect. Bergeron failed to contain Hyman on the play that resulted in the disallowed goal, and Marchand could not corral the puck seconds before Mitch Marner scored on a backhand on Rask’s glove side to give the Leafs an actual 2-1 lead at 13:25 of the second … There has been little nastiness in the series, but we got a glimpse in the third period after David Backes elbowed Andersen in the mask. Roman Polak took exception, wrestling Backes to the ice. Yes, Polak’s actions negated a Leafs power play as both he and Backes went off for roughing, but nothing wrong with a player taking a stand for his goalie — who just happens to be the Leafs’ best player. How Backes escaped without an elbowing minor, which appeared to be the original call, was a mystery … Babcock wound up using Tomas Plekanec between Patrick Marleau and Marner to defend against the Bergeron line, not Nazem Kadri, as everyone was expecting following the morning skate. Kadri was between Andreas Johnsson and Nylander, as he was in Game 5 in Boston. The Bergeron trio did everything but score, which has been a common theme after the first two games of the series … From our notes being taken as the game progressed: Andersen on Marchand. Andersen on Rick Nash. Andersen on Sean Kuraly. Andersen was not as busy as he was in Game 5, but perhaps just as good.
FROM THE HASH MARKS
Matt Martin has been named the Leafs nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” Nominees across the NHL are selected by their respective clubs