Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is excited about the opportunity to play in another Game 7, anticipating an intense battle.

He and his team are no strangers to reaching winner-take-all games, as this will be the sixth such instance that has occurred since signing with the Leafs back in 2018. However, the Leafs have yet to win such a contest, with the last win coming back in 2004 against the Ottawa Senators.

While it would be easy to get fixated on the past shortcomings, Tavares is keeping his focus on preparing for this contest with a birth in the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.

“Obviously, playing in front of our fans is always amazing and great. The benefits you get playing at home with last change and things like that,” he said to reporters after the morning skate on Sunday. “ But we talked about just trying to keep and find a real simple hard game. Building up a lot of things we did the other night, knowing the challenge of getting the pucks through to the net.  Not try to go out there and do too much; just playing hard, sticking to the game plan.”

If the Leafs wish to advance past the second round for the first time since 2002, it will take a collective effort from everyone on the ice to be at their best. It certainly helps that they will have the services of Matthew Knies in this pivotal game, as he was confirmed to be participating by head coach Craig Berube after an injury scare left doubts about his availability for Game 7.

“No question Kniesy is growing into a heck of a player,  how quick his evolution has been throughout the first couple of years and certainly this season,” Tavares said. “The steps he has taken in becoming a career power forward. Plays in all situations,  made some key plays, had some big moments for us already.  So, good to see him out there and getting ready to go.”

Tavares recalls playing in his first-ever Game 7 back in 2015 when he was with the New York Islanders as an ‘eye-opening’ experience. He learned quickly the intensity of such games, how much attention to detail was required, and the emotion that comes with playing in a contest with that high of stakes.

Tavares and his teammates have their focus on building off the strong performance of Game 6, but he knows the opportunities to play in Game 7s are special.

“It never gets old,” he said.  “I think playing at this level, whether it’s stepping on the ice in preseason or a Game 7 like tonight,  it’s got the same excitement and feeling of being a kid that wanted to play in the NHL.  Playing in the league and playing in these types of games in these types of moments, it’s a lot of fun, it’s really special.  So you try to enjoy every part of it, but obviously also just try to stay really in the moment. Focusing on the things that you gotta do throughout the day to get ready to play, going out there, and giving it your all.”