Leafs will try to embrace the big moment with post-season berth up for grabs
TORONTO — James van Riemsdyk has stepped onto the ice at the Olympics and Stanley Cup final. Brian Boyle has racked up 100 playoff games in the NHL, including a pair of visits to the final himself. Roman Polak played for the Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks last spring.
But most of the current Maple Leafs head into a make-or-break end to the regular season with little to no big-game NHL experience under their belts. The Leafs can clinch their first playoff berth since 2013 — and first in a full season in 13 years — if they can somehow beat the defending Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday evening.
Head coach Mike Babcock advised his group to embrace the nerves and enjoy the moment.
“It’s no different than being on the tee at the Masters,” said Babcock following a team meeting on Friday morning. “You step up there, you’ve got to clear your mind and hit the ball. If there’s momentary doubt, you push through it and you hit it down the middle and then get ready for the next shot.