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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs, who practised at MasterCard Centre on Wednesday before flying to Boston. 

Does John Tavares know how crazy Toronto gets in the playoffs? 

"Honestly, not really," he said. "When I was a kid I wasn’t about town, and out in Oakville (where he grew up) you probably didn’t get that feel as much as being right in the heart of the city."

Tavares is quickly learning what it's like. 

"Over the last week or so a lot of people have shown their support, a lot of people waving around town and talking about this series and excited for us and this opportunity," he said.

Tavares is in his 10th NHL season, but has only been on the winning side of one playoff series. So, while this is only the start​ of his Toronto tenure, there’s been an urgency in both his play and his voice this year.    

"You get to the Stanley Cup playoffs and this is what you work for, these opportunities, and you can’t let them pass when they come. You never know when, possibly, it could be your time," the 28-year-old centre stressed. "You have to take this as serious as any opportunity you’re ever going to get."

Tavares is a first overall pick, who has learned to take nothing for granted. He made the playoffs just three times during nine seasons in New York. But when he made it he produced with 11 goals and 22 points in 24 career playoff games, including a double overtime series clincher against the Florida Panthers in 2016. 

"That opportunity is what you play for," Tavares said. "Obviously, pressure comes with that, but this is what makes the game fun and what’s so great about playing in the NHL and for the Stanley Cup."

Tavares produced 47 goals and 88 points this season, both career highs, but was quick to point out that the playoffs are a different beast. 

"You got to try and carry the momentum as long as you can and when you don’t have it you got to go out there and find a way to get it back and try to handle that adversity as best you can," Tavares said. "Not trying to worry about the kind of season you had is really the way I approach it."

"Lots of times you've had a career year and if you go two games without scoring everyone's all over you," head coach Mike Babcock said. "Just play well and don't read any of the news, just play well, keep doing it and stick to your game and everything will turn (out) good."

Tavares, who didn't go more than two games without a point all season, seems well positioned to keep the good times rolling. 

"He knows how to score playoff goals," Babcock noted. "That's what he scores anyway by standing in the blue paint so shouldn’t be a big adjustment for him."

After practice on Wednesday Tavares once again put in extra work around the crease. After a rebound bounced off the pads of Garret Sparks, he turned around and fired the puck in. He did this repeatedly. He then worked on tipping shots. It's his normal routine. 

Tavares constantly speaks about sticking with the process and he's staying true to that as the playoffs open. You've heard of Captain Serious? Well, Tavares may as well be called Captain Consistent. 

"People are saying that they want him to step up for the playoffs or we need him to step up, but we just need Johnny to be Johnny and I think if he brings that we’ll be more than thankful," said defenceman Travis Dermott.
"He really wants this as much as anyone if not more than everyone."

The Leafs will likely lean on Tavares and linemates Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner when it comes to slowing down Boston’s dynamic top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

Tavares looks up to the challenge. 

"He’s been really good," said Babcock, "and he’s gotten better and better and better defensively for us, which is real important for our team."

It certainly feels like his presence has changed the dynamic of the showdown with the Bruins. 

"We added a really, really good player," said centre Auston Matthews. "Just helps our depth and creates more matchup pressure for the other team. He's been great for us to have and even us younger guys learning from (him) and the experiences that he's gone through in his career. He's a very knowledgable person."

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Babcock, who hasn't coached a team past the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2009, was asked how he's handling the pressure these days. 

"It's a riot, to tell you the truth," the coach said with a smile. "I said to my wife two days ago, this is as much fun as I've had in three months ... so getting prepared is important. When I look at what we've been able to do here, obviously, real proud of where we're at and where we're going. When they told me the other day that the Maple Leafs didn't have back to back 100-point seasons in their history I couldn't believe [it], but it just goes to show you we're going in the right direction." 

While the addition of Tavares and defenceman Jake Muzzin has bolstered the team's depth, Babcock seems just as excited by the natural progression of his young stars. 

​"The addition we're not talking about is the guys are a year older, they've been through it," he reminded reporters. "They understand, they're better defensively, they know how to play better, they're more confident. So, I think that's a big part of it as well."

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It's the day before Game 1 and we don't know who will dress as Toronto's backup goalie in Boston. Michael Hutchinson missed practice on Wednesday for personal reasons. 

"Hutch's wife is having a baby," Babcock revealed after the workout. 

Will he be available to dress tomorrow? 

"That's a good question. Obviously, being there for the birth of your child and supporting your wife is more important than hockey and so he needs to look after the family part first."

With Hutchinson away, Sparks made an unlikely return to the Leafs dressing room. It was only last Friday that Hutchinson was called up from the American Hockey League when the team decided to have Sparks, who struggled down the stretch, work separately from the group for 10 days to try and get his game back in order. He had been working out with extra Leafs defencemen Igor Ozhiganov and Justin Holl on the Marlies pad at the team's practice facility the last couple of days. 

"He's not back here any sooner than expected," Babcock said. "In my mind, he's filling in for a day or two while Hutch and his wife welcome their child. The 10-day program that he was on, he's still on that program, we won't deviate from that."

Sparks met with the media for about 90 seconds. Here's the transcript of his exchange:

Quite the week for you. How are you feeling? 

Sparks: "I'm fine. It was a good couple days of work and it's good to be back here." 

What did they tell you? 

"Not much. They just said Hutch would be up for a little bit and it was on me to go do some work and it's all part of being a pro."

Were you in agreement that you needed that?

"I'm in agreement that I haven't played to the degree that we all know I can play so, ah, extra work isn't a bad thing."

Were you surprised? Shocked? You're here all year and then all of the sudden you have to take a step back. 

"It's not about me right now, you know, it's about this whole team and whatever I have going on it's on me to figure out and I think I've done a good job of that."

How did the time away help? 

"It's just nice to get that added level of focus back and be able to fine tune certain parts of your game that you want to work on."

Why has the transition to the NHL been tough?

"Well, you don't do this (media) in the AHL so that's one component. It's better players, it's a tougher schedule, there's a lot going on so that's it."

Are you going to Boston? 

"Yeah."

At that point the scrum was ended by a member of the team's media relations department. 

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Lines at Wednesday’s practice: 

Forwards
Hyman-Tavares-Marner 
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen 
Marleau-Kadri-Nylander
Moore-Gauthier-Brown
Petan, Ennis 

Defencemen
Rielly-Hainsey  
Muzzin-Zaitsev 
Gardiner-Dermott
Rosen-Marincin 

Goaltenders
Andersen
Sparks

Power-play units at Wednesday's practice: 

Rielly
Matthews-Kadri-Marner
Tavares 

Gardiner
Kapanen-Johnsson-Nylander
Marleau