“We deal with something… talked about some urgency, we need more throughout the game than in desperate time. ”
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Maple Leaf is not a happy group.
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Of course, there is a good reason for that, as they have tripped for a while, winning once in the last six games.
“They are frustrated by things, they are angry, and that’s a good thing,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said Monday after the team skated in the morning at Scotiabank Arena. “This morning we went through several things, we were a team and talked about some urgency, we needed more throughout the game than in desperate time.”
Leafs’ recent spin has put them in the fight with the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
No. 1 in this department? Well, that means passing the Florida Panthers, which scored 4 points on Leaf and Lightning. Leaf has two games in Florida (and so does Tampa), but that doesn’t mean it’s Toronto’s automatic fours.
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The next challenge for Leaf is in the form of Calgary Flames, who arrived in Toronto in the fight for the Seano Cards in the Western Conference.
We suggest that Leaf, with its offensive talent, should be able to leverage a Flame team that scored the least goals in the National Hockey League. But just because Leaves are angry and recognizing that they have to be more intense and executed than they have recently, doesn’t mean they will turn things around on Monday night.
Still, it may be worth remembering that the Leafs have won six of the past seven games in their last seven games.
General confidence in Toronto locker rooms has not diminished.
“We have to work hard,” said defensive player Morgan Rielly. “We have the ability to do that.
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“You look at our department, it’s tight. It’s a great opportunity for us to get together and start playing some good hockey.
“As a group, we know what we’re going through, we know what we’re dealing with, we have the opportunity to sit down and talk about it. It’s a great opportunity for our group to overcome adversity and move forward at a big moment of the season.”
What are the expectations of former Leaf Center Nazem Kadri from his old club tonight?
“A hungry man,” Kadri said. “We hope they try hard to do their best. It’s important for both teams. These are what we need to have. It should be a good hockey game.”
Joseph Woll will start on the Toronto network. Dustin Wolf is sure to win the NHL top rookie and he will get the starting point of the flames.
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One of the flames, the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues or Utah Hockey Club will receive a second universal card seed from the way the Western Conference is shaped. The Karnaks are now at that location, with Bruce having 73 points, while Flame and Utah having 71 points, respectively.
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In the six years since Leafs traded Kadri to the Colorado avalanche.
Ask him if he still has a friendly Kadri in the Toronto organization.
“Everyone,” said Kadri. “I will have some family and friends in the building that feels very similar, like you’ve never left.
“You’re on the other end, but I’m still good with everyone. Chat with them regularly. It’ll be fun to try to go there and go to the right.”
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @ @koshtorontosun
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