<p>The <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> may be up 2-0 in their first round series against the Ottawa Senators, but Auston Matthews and his teammates know better than to assume every game is going to be easy.</p>
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<p>After winning Game 1 rather handily, the Senators showed up to Game 2 with a better effort, despite resulting in a 3-2 overtime <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/5-takeaways-toronto-maple-leafs-ottawa-senators-game-2-domi-delivers-playoff-rielly-back-stolarz-heroic">win for Toronto</a>. Now approaching Game 3 on the road, Matthews is anticipating a loud building and a strong response from the Sens.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure it will be great,&#8221; Matthews said when asked what he thought the atmosphere might be like for Game 3. &#8220;I mean, we know they&#8217;re gonna be ready to go, they&#8217;ll want to have a response, so we just have to be ready.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Senators outshot the Leafs on Tuesday and capitalized on the few costly mistakes they made, but the Leafs spent the majority of the game with the lead thanks to two goals in the first ten minutes of the game. Matthews took note of this.</p>
<p>&#8220;Those first ten minutes are going to be really important, it&#8217;s going to be buzzing in there,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Just gotta manage those and continue to take it one shift at a time.&#8221;</p>
<p>Head coach Craig Berube was tight-lipped about any roster decisions he might make ahead of Game 3, but revealed at morning skate that Max Pacioretty will be <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/max-pacioretty-toronto-maple-leafs-lineup-ottawa-senators-game-3">coming into the lineup</a> for Nick Robertson. It will be Pacioretty&#8217;s first playoff game with the Leafs and his first game since February 8. Matthews</p>
<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s obviously a physical, fast player, plays very straight lines, I think he&#8217;s pretty fired up to be back in the lineup,&#8221; the Leafs captain said of Pacioretty&#8217;s return. &#8220;It&#8217;s been a little while for him, but I mean, he&#8217;s a veteran guy. I think he knows what to do out there, especially in this kind of situation, just keep things simple and just play his game.&#8221;</p>
<p>Whether it&#8217;s Pacioretty or Robertson in the lineup, Matthews stressed the importance of a buy-in from every single player on the roster and a commitment to the details.</p>
<p>&#8220;I think at this time of year, I mean, it takes everybody out there,&#8221; Matthews said. &#8220;No matter, you know, what your role is, you have to sacrifice and do all the little things.&#8221;</p>
<p>Matthews is without a goal in the series so far, but has three assists to his name. Arguably the most pleasant stat, however, is his four blocked shots to lead all Leafs players in Game 2. The team as a whole combined to block 32 shots against the Senators in the win, which supports Matthews&#8217; stance on what it will take to win games.</p>
<p>&#8220;Obviously you want to produce, you want to do all that stuff, but like I said, puck battles, face-offs, blocking shots, making plays at the right time, taking care of pucks in the right areas. These are all little things that accumulate over the time of the games, over the series.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Leafs and Senators will take to the ice for puck drop at 7 pm eastern time.</p>
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The <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> may be up 2-0 in their first round series against the Ottawa Senators, but Auston Matthews and his teammates know better than to assume every game is going to be easy.
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After winning Game 1 rather handily, the Senators showed up to Game 2 with a better effort, despite resulting in a 3-2 overtime <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/5-takeaways-toronto-maple-leafs-ottawa-senators-game-2-domi-delivers-playoff-rielly-back-stolarz-heroic">win for Toronto</a>. Now approaching Game 3 on the road, Matthews is anticipating a loud building and a strong response from the Sens.

"I'm sure it will be great," Matthews said when asked what he thought the atmosphere might be like for Game 3. "I mean, we know they're gonna be ready to go, they'll want to have a response, so we just have to be ready."

The Senators outshot the Leafs on Tuesday and capitalized on the few costly mistakes they made, but the Leafs spent the majority of the game with the lead thanks to two goals in the first ten minutes of the game. Matthews took note of this.

"Those first ten minutes are going to be really important, it's going to be buzzing in there," he continued. "Just gotta manage those and continue to take it one shift at a time."

Head coach Craig Berube was tight-lipped about any roster decisions he might make ahead of Game 3, but revealed at morning skate that Max Pacioretty will be <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/max-pacioretty-toronto-maple-leafs-lineup-ottawa-senators-game-3">coming into the lineup</a> for Nick Robertson. It will be Pacioretty's first playoff game with the Leafs and his first game since February 8. Matthews

"He's obviously a physical, fast player, plays very straight lines, I think he's pretty fired up to be back in the lineup," the Leafs captain said of Pacioretty's return. "It's been a little while for him, but I mean, he's a veteran guy. I think he knows what to do out there, especially in this kind of situation, just keep things simple and just play his game."

Whether it's Pacioretty or Robertson in the lineup, Matthews stressed the importance of a buy-in from every single player on the roster and a commitment to the details.

"I think at this time of year, I mean, it takes everybody out there," Matthews said. "No matter, you know, what your role is, you have to sacrifice and do all the little things."

Matthews is without a goal in the series so far, but has three assists to his name. Arguably the most pleasant stat, however, is his four blocked shots to lead all Leafs players in Game 2. The team as a whole combined to block 32 shots against the Senators in the win, which supports Matthews' stance on what it will take to win games.

"Obviously you want to produce, you want to do all that stuff, but like I said, puck battles, face-offs, blocking shots, making plays at the right time, taking care of pucks in the right areas. These are all little things that accumulate over the time of the games, over the series."

The Leafs and Senators will take to the ice for puck drop at 7 pm eastern time.

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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