NHL
Senators at Maple Leafs, Eastern Conference 1st Round Game 2 preview
TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs will attempt to take their first 2-0 lead in a Stanley Cup Playoff series in 23 years when they host the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET: CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN2).
Toronto has not won the first two games of a postseason series since doing so in the first round against the New York Islanders in 2002. The Maple Leafs went on to win that best-of-7 series in seven games.
Toronto defeated Ottawa 6-2 in Game 1 on Sunday but is braced for a pushback from the Senators.
“We’re going to have the same mindset as we did in Game 1,” Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev said after Toronto’s morning skate. “We’re focused on one game at a time.
“We’re not looking into the past or back at the past or looking into the future. We need to stay in the present and stay confident and be together and play our game.”
The lone lineup change for Toronto involves forward Pontus Holmberg, who replaced Max Domi on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander during practice Monday. Domi dropped down to the third line, where he’ll center Bobby McMann and Nicholas Robertson.
“Just a matchup thing,” coach Craig Berube said.
The Senators, meanwhile, will be faced with a number of game-time decisions.
Forward Ridly Greig and defenseman Nick Jensen did not participate in the morning skate. Afterward, Ottawa coach Travis Green said each should be available to play.
Green would not confirm if Nick Cousins would enter into the lineup after sitting out Game 1, but the forward spoke as if he'd be playing; he played the final two games of the regular season after missing the previous 30 because of knee surgery.
“I feel good,” Cousins said after the Senators morning skate. “I mean, I obviously want to come in and help the guys out and provide some energy and get a win at the end of the day.”
Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series own an all-time series record of 353-56 (.863), including a 266-34 (.887) mark when starting at home.
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