With the Capitals ahead 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and a win away from advancing to the second round of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Maple Leafs facing elimination, can the Maple Leafs come back to eliminate the Washington Capitals and meet the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final?
Mike Babcock spoke to the media yesterday in Toronto after practice, a day after his Toronto Maple Leafs lost 2-1 in overtime to the Washington Capitals to fall behind 3-2 in the series, where he spoke about how Verizon Center employees told him to,
"“have a good year” when getting onto the team’s bus, when Babcock said he responded by saying, “No, see you in a couple of days”, before adding, “In my mind and in my heart, that’s what I know is going to happen.”."
"See you in a couple days."
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) April 22, 2017
Mike Babcock said this to every staff-member at Verizon Center as he walked to the team bus.
Mike Babcock on going back to Wash for a Game 7: "In my mind and in my heart, that's what I know is going to happen."
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 22, 2017
The Maple Leafs head coach has been confident in his young Maple leafs team since game one of this series but his confidence in his team is on full display. The success of the Maple Leafs has been from Babcock introducing the rookie into the NHL and developing them into elite players, such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Along with veterans, such as Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk buying into Babcock systems but it might Babcock that has bought fully into his team. Even if it is with house money.
Through the first five games of the series the Capitals are ahead 3-2 and the overall numbers show an even series, backing Babcock’s belief in his team against the President’s Trophy winners. The Capitals lead the series in goals 16-15, but the shots on goal are even 175-175, with the Maple Leafs leading the series in shot attempts 359-352.The Capitals have the only regulation win of the series with both teams tied 2-2 in overtime wins.
Babcock: "We want to be right here in overtime in Game 7."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) April 22, 2017
Trotz on Game 6: "You get an opportunity to push someone off a cliff, you need to push them off if you can".
— Lance Hornby 🇺🇦 (@sunhornby) April 22, 2017
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Even though the Capitals lead the series 3-2 and the Maple Leafs can’t lose or their season will be over, they have earned the full respect of their head coach for what they have achieved this season. With their head coach’s confidence fully behind them, it could just be the extra push the Maple Leafs need to win game six and force game seven Tuesday night back in Washington. It’s just one step closer to booking a date with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.