Balanced team effort. They clogged better and supported each other better than last game in the 3rd.
Nevermind the game winning goal, in my opinion Marner played the most cerebral playoff hockey of his career in this game. Every other year he has been burned once or twice on the East/West pass at the blue line, he's finally abandoned that high risk play and made good, sound, simple decisions. Doing just a little bit extra to get comfortable while in a one goal game. Maybe the goal just fired the neurons up.
If you have the I.Q advantage, use it (as one of my professors used to tell me) and for my money he has this series. It's good to see him finally adapt to what is needed. The goal was just the reward for playing the right way.
I give immense credit to Berube for focusing on composure. He knows the pressure and stress levels in T.O so he is focusing on reiterating the gameplan without being lackadaisical, nor overly emotional either.
You see the players on the ice have bought in and are thinking more accurately and faster, not feeling frantic with their decisions, ESPECIALLY Marner this playoff run. The 3rd period of this game was evidence of this.
The entire defense core just battles. They are the rock of this team. They exude confidence and a "get it done" attitude.
Florida has perhaps the best forecheck in the game but the defense just wins those battles that are necessary.
Of course they want to win both on the road, the minimum is a split but it's time to be greedy.
