In Game 1 of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced a worst-case scenario.
Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Wall both struggled, allowing seven goals on 34 shots, and Samsonov was substituted in the third period.
On Tuesday, the Lightning were simply the better team, but Coach John Cooper didn’t take that for granted.
In his postgame press conference after Game 1, the Bolts’ chairperson discussed the Maple Leafs and how they can win the series, notes Cooper playing mind games with Toronto before Game 2 on Thursday night.
John Cooper: “The Leafs might win the series. Maybe. There’s a lot of runway left in this, but what I’ve learned over the years is I sure as hell wouldn’t bet against our guys.”
– Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 19, 2023
“The Leafs might win the series. Maybe. There’s a lot of coliseum left in this, but what I’ve learned over the years is I sure as hell wouldn’t bet against our guys.”
Cooper has a point, though, for being able to get under the skin of the Maple Leafs and their fans during the first round of a series. The playoff series is a best-of-seven for a reason.
And almost in response to Cooper’s comments, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Cave had an answer for where the Series could go:
“It’s the nature of the playoff series,” said the coach.
“It is up to us to respond.”
And that response will begin with the second game of this series on Thursday in Toronto.