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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The feeling around the Maple Leafs is different heading into this year's series against rival Boston. 

"More confidence," observed centre Nazem Kadri. "We just feel like we've been here before. We've had that heartbreak and we understand what that feels like and we don’t want that to happen again. We’ll do everything we can to hopefully change the outcome this year."

"A little bit more confident," agreed right winger Mitch Marner. "We got confidence in ourselves here. We know the kind of team we can be when we play right."

But just like last season, the Bruins finished seven points clear of the Leafs in the regular season to earn home-ice advantage, so the scenario feels similar. 

"It's a different year," Marner insists. "We're a different team. We did some things in the summertime and we got a little more confidence in this room and we're ready to play with it."

The Leafs blew a lead in the third period in Game 7 last spring. In the regular season this year, they lost just once (at Vancouver) when leading after two periods. 

"Last year there was lots of ups and downs through the series," Marner noted, "through a game, a lot of turn of events and as a team we'll be ready to face those a little bit better. Also, last year our team wasn't great at holding a lead in the third period that whole year and this year we've done a better job of that."

The start of the game is just as important as the third period. Brad Marchand opened the scoring just 5:28 into Game 1 last year and Boston jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period of Game 2. 

"Those first 10 minutes, first period, it's usually pretty hectic," recalled centre Auston Matthews. "It's going to be physical, it's going to be fast. We can't just sit back and let them take the game to us. We've got to establish our game early and play our game, play fast, take care of the puck."

 Marner seemed relaxed this morning even cracking a joke when asked if he's made any progress with his playoff "beard" since last year's weak showing. 

"The peach fuzz gets a little bit heavier now," he said with a chuckle. "Maybe see if I can go somewhere and get it dyed. I don’t know, it’s probably going to look gross."

Marner led the Leafs in scoring with nine points against the Bruins in last year's series and will be counted on to produce this year even though he may be matched up against Patrice Bergeron and Boston's dynamic top line. Leafs coach Mike Babcock is warning his young stars about getting too wrapped up in point totals. 

"When you're a really good player, you're going to draw a ton of checking and you may go a long period of time with not getting what you like, which is goals and assists," Babcock said. "You've just got to stay patient and keep winning faceoffs and staying on the D-side and not getting involved in that. All it's about is your team winning. In the end, over a period of time, when you're playing a really good team you might not even score in the first round. If you put a bunch of pressure on yourself, then you're getting in your own way. That's the biggest thing."

Finding the recipe for playoff success isn't easy and some of the Bruins’ core already has a Stanley Cup ring on its resume. 

"Once you've had success at playoff time and you've disarmed a bomb or found the key to the safe and figured out what happened, you think you just know how to make it happen," Babcock said. "Until you find that though, you're in the same process as everybody else."

 It’s hard to envision a scenario where the Leafs upset the Bruins without getting a great performance from Frederik Andersen. 

The goalie was in the Vezina Trophy conversation most of the season, but a poor March (.890 save percentage) raised doubts about his ability to elevate in the postseason. Andersen also struggled in last year’s seven-game loss to the Bruins, posting an .896 save percentage.

So, how's he dealing with the pressure? 

"Hmm, I don’t know. 'Pressure' is a different word than I would use," the 29-year-old Dane said. "I would use, 'excitement,' and the opportunity that you have and you’ve worked all year for is here and I think this group is excited about that."

 It remains unclear who will dress as Andersen's backup tonight. Michael Hutchinson missed yesterday's practice to be with his pregnant wife. 

"They had the baby," Babcock revealed. "Mom and baby are both healthy, a baby girl. I expect him to be back when he's ready to be back. So, depending on what the needs of the family are."

What's that mean for the struggling Garret Sparks, who made the trip to Boston despite being asked to work separately from the team last week in an effort to regain his confidence?

"Freddie is going," is all Babcock would say.

 Projected Leafs lineup for Game 1:

Hyman-Tavares-Marner 
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen 
Marleau-Kadri-Nylander 
Moore-Gauthier-Brown 

Rielly-Hainsey  
Muzzin-Zaitsev 
Gardiner-Dermott 

Andersen starts 
Sparks

Projected Bruins lineup for Game 1:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Kuhlman
Johansson-Coyle-Heinen
Nordstrom-Acciari-Wagner

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Clifton

Rask starts 
Halak