The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to close out a playoff series for the 13th time in their last 14 chances, but Mitch Marner insists the mood in the locker room is “fine.”
After a 4-0 loss at home in Game 5, Toronto’s lead over the Ottawa Senators shrank to 3-2, with pressure mounting ahead of Game 6 in Ottawa.
The Senators have outscored Toronto 8-3 in the past two, potential series-clinching games, after falling behind 3-0 in the series.
“(We’re) Fine. Playoffs are not supposed to be easy. This is never supposed to be easy,” Marner said. “We knew it was going to be a challenge. They pushed back the last two games.
”Now we’ve got to go into a building and play our best game.”
Toronto had a 25-13-3 record away from home during the regular season and won Game 3 in Ottawa. Only the President’s Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets won more road games than the Maple Leafs this season.
Marner pointed to the team’s road record as a reason for optimism.
“We’ve been a great road team all year, so we have confidence in this group,” Marner said.
That said, fan concerns have grown louder as familiar playoff narratives returned, as the Maple Leafs have advanced beyond the first round only once since 2004.
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) during the warmup before hosting the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ottawa, meanwhile, is gaining momentum each passing game, with Senators captain Brady Tkachuk saying after Game 5 that his team has “planted a seed of doubt” in the Leafs.
“I expect pure insanity, that’s for sure,” Tkachuk said of the upcoming Game 6 in Ottawa. “(The fans) know how important they are. They know how much juice they give us. We just want to represent them well.”
Game 6 is Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre, where Ottawa will try to force a Game 7 back in Toronto.
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