BOSTON — Nazem Kadri and the Toronto Maple Leafs have been paying close attention to some of the eyebrow-raising results early in the NHL playoffs.
The Toronto centre and his teammates are hoping to add another tonight against the Boston Bruins.
Related: 4 Takeaways From Maple Leafs’ 4-1 Win in Game 1
The Leafs lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 following a 4-1 win at TD Garden on Thursday night. They can match the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues as road teams up 2-0.
“There’s been a few road teams that have pulled off a couple victories and heading home with two in the bank,” Kadri said after the morning skate. “We’re looking to accomplish that.
“We understand that they’re going to be pretty desperate. We’ve got to match that intensity. We’ve got to be ready.”
The Blue Jackets stunned the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning with consecutive road wins while the Blues did the same against the Jets in Winnipeg.
“I don’t get surprised at playoff time,” Toronto head coach Mike Babcock said. “As the league gets tighter and tighter, the separation is almost nothing.
“We know every series is going to be ultra-competitive.”
To avoid an 0-2 hole heading to Scotiabank Arena for Monday’s Game 3, the Bruins will try to key on neutralizing Leafs winger Mitch Marner. He scored twice in Game 1 and was a threat seemingly every time he touched the puck.
“Mitchy’s Mitchy” – Nazem Kadri
“I’m not sure there is an answer,” Kadri said regarding how to stop Marner. “Mitchy’s Mitchy. He’s just going to do his thing. He’s just so elusive with the puck. If you try to hit him, it seems like he can slide checks, create plays.
“He’s a great one-on-one player just to be able to free up his linemates and get open and create opportunities, because he can create chances just with his feet and his hands. We’re going to look to him to keep bringing that offence.”
Related: Maple Leafs’ Playoff X-Factors: Hainsey, Babcock & Andersen
Marner _ who along with John Tavares, Zach Hyman, Jake Muzzin and Nikita Zaitsev did a solid job of containing Boston’s top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak in Game 1 _ said it’s important the Leafs stay patient in their approach.
“We just want to play the same game,” he said. “If the play is there, make it.
“If not, don’t beat ourselves. Just make sure we’re working hard all over the ice.”
Speaking of ice, Marner was also asked about a video from the NHL’s “Stanley Cup Confidential” series posted to Twitter that showed him mixing ice cream and chocolate sauce into a soupy mess as part of his pre-game preparations.
“As a kid I just always stirred it up like that and always thought it tastes better,” said the 21-year-old. “It’s something I just continued to do my whole life.
“People think it’s crazy.”
As far as the Leafs are no doubt concerned, whatever works.
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
