Gut check time for Maple Leafs
Playoff spot within their grasp, but youngsters still have to close it out
If his Toronto Maple Leafs are starting to feel the pressure that comes with playing in Toronto — and the increased heat that comes with trying to nail down a playoff spot — Mike Babcock offered some advice.
“You could go home and watch you guys (the media) all day long if you wanted to,” the Leafs coach said after the players had an optional practice Friday at the MasterCard Centre.
“What I would suggest is you watch the hunting channel. They don’t cover anything on the Leafs, go out for a nice dinner and get a good sleep and I would come in (Saturday) and get ready.
“Country music radio, they don’t talk about hockey. You know what’s going on around you and you want to do a real good job for the fans and the city of Toronto and all those things. These guys want to win for them(selves) too. I think that’s the priority.”
The Leafs remain in the driver’s seat heading into the final weekend of the regular season. With 93 points and two games remaining — at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday — the Leafs hold the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, just one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning and three points up on the New York Islanders.
The Lightning defeated the Canadiens 4-2 Friday night in the lone game on the NHL schedule to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Games involving the Islanders and Lightning this weekend were of little interest to the Leafs. If the Leafs get two points in their final two games, they’re going to the playoffs for the first time since 2013, and that was their focus.
“What I like about this opportunity is we have to earn our way in,” Babcock said.
“No one is giving it to you. And that’s what it is all about, is having these opportunities to grow your game in moments that matter. They have all had these opportunities at different levels, just not at this level. So let’s look after business.”
As for whether the Leafs are battling nerves with a playoff spot for the taking, they’re drawing on past experiences to get them through the intensity. Yes, there have been back-to-back regulation losses for the first time in more than a month, but the Leafs have won 11 of their past 16.
“If you’re playing in the NHL, (the great likelihood is) you’ve had some success on big stages before,” defenceman Connor Carrick said.
“When you are getting ready to play big games, what is it that makes you nervous? Screwing up. Well, you have already played big games and screwed up and still have a career.
“The most crippling thing is when you are afraid to make mistakes. That’s hard hockey to play, when you’re really jammed up. You have to mentally saddle up.”
And, from veteran Brian Boyle’s view, don’t go off script.
“You just have to do what gets you there,” Boyle said.
“The battles and the opportunities to rise to the occasion will present themselves. You can’t go out looking for it and get yourself all out whack. I think that’s kind of what I learned even before I got into the NHL.”
The hunting channel and country music to relax? Some Leafs might have had an issue with Babcock’s suggestion. It sounded more like they were going to catch some of the Masters on television.
Even Babcock couldn’t stray from a golf analogy.
“It’s no different than being on the tee at the Masters,” Babcock said. “You step up there, you have to clear your mind and hit the ball. If there is momentary doubt you push through it and hit it down the middle and get ready for your next shot.
“Same thing here in hockey. Play your shift, come back, take a deep breath get a drink of water and play your next one.”