New York. It’s springtime – so as usual in Toronto.
Because it was business as usual when the Maple Leafs made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs last night.
They fell badly and were beaten 7-3 by their new opponent, Tampa.
– I played like a crap, – says goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov.
Year after year, there’s talk that the Toronto Maple Leafs are finally ready to break their curse and win their first playoff series—and after a stellar regular season debut this year, there’s more talk than ever.
But tonight, it was time to back up the talk with a performance, in the first game against Tampa who knocked them out in a seven-game drama last year, and then it went business as usual.
The Blue and White Leafs faltered, trailing 3-0 after halftime and were eventually beaten 7-3 – on home ice.
– It’s hard to say why. We conceded uncharacteristically and I thought I felt a lot of nervousness, coach Sheldon Cave sighed.
Guard Ilya Samsonov is more forthright:
– I was rubbish and I should play better, he says.
At Tampa camp, the tone was of course more cheerful, but what worries coach John Cooper is that Victor Hedman was forced to stop the game after one period.
– I was a little surprised he was injured. We wish it wasn’t too serious, but we won’t know until we wake up tomorrow, he says.
Otherwise, he has very little to complain about “Coop”.
– If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you shouldn’t bet on the players on our team.
William Nylander and Calle Järnkrok each scored for the Leafs.
