For the fourth time in 11 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the brink of a playoff elimination at the hands of the Boston Bruins.
The Maple Leafs finally got their 19-year first-round monkey off their back last spring, but after a lacklustre Game 4 showing at Scotiabank Arena to put them in a 3-1 series hole, the Buds are dangerously close to repeating well-known history.
The pressure is on for the Maple Leafs to pull out an inspired performance in enemy territory in Game 5, but nobody felt the pressure more on Saturday night than the Leafs' top players — and it showed.
Normally known for their tight-knit relationship, tensions boiled over on the bench between Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner and William Nylander as the boys in blue were down three goals on home ice. Matthews appeared frustrated as he leaned over to talk to Marner following a failed attempt to generate offence. Nylander chimed in with comments of his own, after which Marner slammed each of his gloves to the ground behind the bench.
The exchange caused a stir amongst fans and analysts, who noted that, while some teams are galvanized through anger (even at one another), this Maple Leafs roster isn't one of them.
However, Marner and head coach Sheldon Keefe are denying there's any ill will in the room, even with their season hanging on the edge.
"I don't think there is any [frustration]. We're grown men. We're just talking about plays out there that we all want to make sure we're 100 per cent in," Marner said to reporters when asked about the exchange. "Just a little off page there. We're not yelling at each other because we hate each other."
Keefe echoed the statement.
"I don't sense any frustration. Guys are pushing one another, guys are competitive, guys want to win. It's all part of it," the coach said.
"We expect a lot from each other and we love each other," Nylander added. "So I mean, just to push each other, have a high ceiling, I think is great."
Though Marner was able to break through and score the Maple Leafs' lone goal, and his first of the playoffs, they were limited by the Bruins' stifling defence and went 0-for-3 on the man advantage. Fans weren't pleased with their team's performance either, with boos raining down as the second-period buzzer sounded.
The Maple Leafs head to TD Garden to face the Bruins in Boston in a must-win Game 5. Watch it unfold on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.
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