'Now The Real Fun Starts': Maple Leafs Taking Inward Approach To Preparation Against Senators In Playoffs

Yahoo

18-04-2025

Toronto will have two days of preparation before the Battle of Ontario begins on Sunday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs got out of game 82 against the Detroit Red Wings unscathed.
After a late goal by Chris Tanev to tie the game and send it to overtime, Scott Laughton found the back of the net for his second goal as a Maple Leaf. "Now the real fun starts," he said after the game.
SCOTT LAUGHTON ENDS THE REGULAR SEASON 🚨 pic.twitter.com/z0fzyplt8o
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 18, 2025
It's time to flip the page, from the Atlantic Division-winning regular season to the eagerly awaited Battle of Ontario, which begins on Sunday. It's the first time Toronto and the Ottawa Senators have gone head-to-head in the playoffs since 2004.
Laughton, who hails from Oakville, Ontario, rewatched the last battle between both clubs in the postseason. He'll make his Maple Leafs debut on Sunday, with fans inside and outside Scotiabank Arena buzzing.
"It was amazing," he said, looking back on the past Battle of Ontario playoff series, "so really excited to get going here and be a part of it."
Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Tanev played in the Battle of Alberta with the Calgary Flames in 2022. Three seasons later and two provinces over, the veteran defenseman will relive and be able to eventually re-tell his version of the clash against Ottawa with the Maple Leafs.
'It's Going To Be A Blood Bath': Maple Leafs Are Ready For Senators In First Round Of Playoffs After Clinching Atlantic Division Toronto has clinched the division title for the first time since the 1999-00 season.
"The province was loud and people were vocal, fans on both sides," he said on Thursday, looking back on the Battle of Alberta. "Those are the series that are fun, they're hard. Every little thing matters, and that's what's going to come up here for us."
The Maple Leafs will review film and have an optional practice on Friday before shifting into full gear on Saturday. Toronto lost all three games to Ottawa in the regular season and were outscored 9-3.
The playoffs, though, are a different game. It's something many Senators players haven't been through in their careers. It's the survival of the fittest. Toronto will want to capitalize on an inexperienced Ottawa team, but they'll make it difficult.
CHRIS TANEV 🚨Ties the game with 1.8 seconds left in regulation pic.twitter.com/iArKtsXWoI
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 18, 2025
But when it comes to preparation for Game 1, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube isn't approaching it any differently than how he's gotten ready for games this season.
"It's about us," he said.
"I get Ottawa's a real good team, and it's going to be a battle, and they do what they do, and we'll look at that stuff, but it really boils down to our team and the commitment and the battle we'll need."
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