Maple Leafs’ Max Domi states every game will feel like playoffs during 2nd half of season

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi was in excellent form during Saturday’s 7-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators, recording three assists. Domi is intimately aware of the rivalry with the Senators, and spoke about the intensity of Saturday’s matchup, which ended with Troy Stecher imploring a raucous Scotiabank Arena crowd to get even louder.

“It’s a playoff game,” Domi said post-game. “I know we’ve been talking about it quite a bit lately but every game from here on out is going to be like a playoff game. That’s how you gotta treat it. So everyone was battling, everyone was competing every shift and that’s what we needed to do.”

Toronto eliminated Ottawa in six games last season, and it’s clear that there’s some bad blood between the teams.

“They have some serious talent. When teams like that go head-to-head, especially when you’re a couple hours down the road and they’re ahead of us, we’re trying to claw back in here and every game is going to feel like that now.”

Domi and the Maple Leafs were cruising to an easy victory, but the Senators rallied back in the third period, cutting the lead down to 6-5, before John Tavares sealed the game with an empty-netter. It was an electric start for the Maple Leafs and the new-look power play, but there’s certainly a few things the Leafs need to clean up.

“We came out of the gates flying. And when they change their goalie like, have a timeout, obviously the other team is on their heels. The one thing we can improve on is the third period, but we know that.”

Domi has seemingly found new life as a top-six right wing, and he accelerated Auston Matthews’ best performance of the season. It will be a quick turnaround, as the Maple Leafs look to continue their winning streak Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings.