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Home Needs To Be Where The Heart Is; Leafs vs. Panthers - Game 5 |
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The Toronto Maple Leafs face another do-or-die situation against the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup second-round series at Scotiabank Arena on Friday. The Leafs staved off elimination with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, but have to do something that they have not done since Game 2 of the series against Tampa Bay.
Win on home ice.
For all the success the Leafs have had on the road (now 4-1 after their Game 4 victory), they are 1-4 at Scotiabank Arena. After responding from a 7-3 blowout with their own 7-2 romp over the Lightning on April 20, Toronto has been limited to two goals per game played on home ice by their Sunshine State.
All of the contests have been close, with the Leafs scoring first in two of them, and even leading by two goals in the first period of Game 2 against Florida, but every game has displayed the same inconsistencies and gaps in effort that proved fatal and that will have to change if Toronto hopes to extend their season.
"It's lose or go home and you're done. You just have to prepare like it's a road game almost, but more fans cheering for you this time." Leafs forward Noel Acciari said. "Our mindset in the locker room is all business, and we know what we need to do."
Toronto will need a similar all-in effort as they put forth on Wednesday, and will also need their core players contributing on the scoreboard, as William Nylander and Mitch Marner did in Game 4.
Joseph Woll was calm and dependable in his first Stanley Cup Playoff start and the rookie netminder will once again start, even though Ilya Samsonov participated in the morning skate on Friday.
The Leafs went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Game 4, and head coach Sheldon Keefe did not indicate any lineup changes in his morning availability. Rookie Matthew Knies was on the ice and Keefe said he was encouraged by the winger’s progress after suffering a concussion in Game 2, but Knies is still not available to return.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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