NHL

Behind Enemy Lines: Babcock on TD Garden, Tavares on the Bruins, Leafs Practice Lines

The countdown begins to Thursday when the Toronto Maple Leafs head to TD Garden to face off against the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the first round.

To get you set, CLNS will be providing daily Maple Leafs news updates.

Babcock weighs in on TD Garden

Leafs head coach Mike Babcock spoke to the media after practice on Monday and sounded off on playing at TD Garden.

“As much as you say it’s a hostile environment, I’ve never seen a fan play yet,” said Babcock. “It’s going to be on the ice for sure, and it’s going to be among two teams.”

The Leafs have shown their struggles playing at the Garden in the past, as they’ve dropped five of their last six in Boston.

Per source, there will be no Bruins fans playing in the game on Thursday night.

Tavares sounds off on playing against team he almost signed with

It seems like an eternity ago, but the Bruins almost got John Tavares during last summer’s free agency. Now that Tavares is gearing up to face the B’s, he took a look back on the whole process that could’ve landed him in Boston.

“They were a great team to meet with and definitely a team I thought about for quite a bit,” said Tavares. “They’re a very impressive group.

“Funny how things work out like that, isn’t it? Now I get to go against them in the first round and for many years ahead.”

Just imagine if he ends up facing the New York Islanders.

Leafs practice lines: April 8th

Hyman-Tavares-Marner

Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen

Marleau-Kadri-Nylander

Moore-Gauthier-Brown

Petan, Ennis

Rielly-Hainsey

Muzzin-Zaitsev

Gardiner-Dermott

Marincin-Rosen

Andersen

Hutchinson

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It’s The FINAL FOUR, baby! PLACE A BET HERE & WITH A 50% CASH BACK

Evan Marinofsky