Former <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> goalie Ed Belfour was happy with how the team played during Sunday&#8217;s Game 1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
The Leafs set the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-win-one-battle-after-another-opening-game-blowout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tone right off the hop</a> by being lethal on the man advantage, remaining disciplined, and getting the key saves when they needed. While they were far from perfect, there was a lot for fans to be happy with going into Game 2 on Tuesday.
Belfour made an appearance on Leafs Morning Take on Monday with Nick Alberga and David Pagnotta, where he gave his perspective on why he was impressed with the Leafs&#8217; performance in the series opener.
&#8220; That&#8217;s the best I&#8217;ve seen them play in a long, long time. And you know, I was excited for them,&#8221; he said. &#8220; I&#8217;m excited for the fans and I just hope they keep it going. Just try not to get too ahead of yourselves, one game at a time.  Don&#8217;t get too cocky, too arrogant. It&#8217;s gonna be a battle every game, you gotta have those sacrifices, those blocking the shots, that back pressure on the defensive side, the forwards: gotta keep doing that.&#8221;
The intense and emotional flare-up between the two combatants of the Battle of Ontario brought back memories of the series of old when the Leafs and Senators met in the playoffs frequently. Belfour may have only been on the team for one of those series (the last one in 2004), but he has fond memories of those battles and the triumph of besting one of their bitter rivals.
One thing that always sticks out in the former goalie&#8217;s mind was the passion in the crowd and how electric the atmosphere can be inside Scotiabank Arena, which he was reminded of on Sunday night.
&#8220; Beating them when they were one of the best in the league,&#8221; Belfour said of his favourite memory of the Battle of Ontario as a player. &#8220; I think at that time they said they were gonna beat us in five games. So, you know, it went seven obviously. And if I remember right, I had three shutouts. So that was pretty awesome to beat those guys first off. I was on fire, so it was a great feeling.&#8221;
One player whom Belfour was especially impressed with was <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/anthony-stolarz-credits-short-term-memory-winning-performance-game-1-senators" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Stolarz</a>, whom he complimented on how well he has thrived in the pressure-cooker of the Toronto market. The 31-year-old made the timely saves when his team needed him to step up, which helped settle things down and give the Leafs a chance to extend their lead.
This may be <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-practice-notes-stolarz-misses-practice-rest-day-holmberg-tavares-nylander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stolarz&#8217;s first rodeo as a playoff starter</a>, but he didn&#8217;t show any signs of inexperience in Game 1, according to Belfour.
&#8220; I believe he looked calm in the net,  he looked like he was having fun. You gotta enjoy those moments,&#8221; he said. &#8220; Sometimes, if you&#8217;re reading headlines and you&#8217;re on social media, I think that pressure can get to a younger fella, and you don&#8217;t always play your best when you put too much pressure on yourself.  It seemed like he was, you know, in his groove, he was seeing the puck well, and he was calm in that he wasn&#8217;t outta control.&#8221;
The Leafs did a great job of setting the tone, but the grind has only just begun. It does not get any easier as the Senators will certainly be coming out looking to get back on track in Game 2 in an attempt to even the series before it shifts to our Nation&#8217;s capital.
&#8220; Their preparation for Game 2 should have started the minute they got in the locker room. There&#8217;s no time for celebration right now,&#8221; Belfour said. &#8220;You start preparing as soon as you get in that locker room, you get in the ice bath, you take care of yourself, get in the gym, cool down properly and get a good meal, and you get home and get some good sleep. And that&#8217;s how you start getting ready. Then today you get back on the ice and or watch some video, and you get prepared for Game 2 like it&#8217;s gonna be an all-out war.&#8221;
You can watch the full interview with Belfour down below:
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Eddie Belfour Breaks Down Leafs&#039; Game 1 Statement: Stolarz, Ullmark &amp; Berube&#039;s Plan" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eDMg7S6w7Gs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Former <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> goalie Ed Belfour was happy with how the team played during Sunday's Game 1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

The Leafs set the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-win-one-battle-after-another-opening-game-blowout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tone right off the hop</a> by being lethal on the man advantage, remaining disciplined, and getting the key saves when they needed. While they were far from perfect, there was a lot for fans to be happy with going into Game 2 on Tuesday.

Belfour made an appearance on Leafs Morning Take on Monday with Nick Alberga and David Pagnotta, where he gave his perspective on why he was impressed with the Leafs' performance in the series opener.

" That's the best I've seen them play in a long, long time. And you know, I was excited for them," he said. " I'm excited for the fans and I just hope they keep it going. Just try not to get too ahead of yourselves, one game at a time.  Don't get too cocky, too arrogant. It's gonna be a battle every game, you gotta have those sacrifices, those blocking the shots, that back pressure on the defensive side, the forwards: gotta keep doing that."

The intense and emotional flare-up between the two combatants of the Battle of Ontario brought back memories of the series of old when the Leafs and Senators met in the playoffs frequently. Belfour may have only been on the team for one of those series (the last one in 2004), but he has fond memories of those battles and the triumph of besting one of their bitter rivals.

One thing that always sticks out in the former goalie's mind was the passion in the crowd and how electric the atmosphere can be inside Scotiabank Arena, which he was reminded of on Sunday night.

" Beating them when they were one of the best in the league," Belfour said of his favourite memory of the Battle of Ontario as a player. " I think at that time they said they were gonna beat us in five games. So, you know, it went seven obviously. And if I remember right, I had three shutouts. So that was pretty awesome to beat those guys first off. I was on fire, so it was a great feeling."

One player whom Belfour was especially impressed with was <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/anthony-stolarz-credits-short-term-memory-winning-performance-game-1-senators" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Stolarz</a>, whom he complimented on how well he has thrived in the pressure-cooker of the Toronto market. The 31-year-old made the timely saves when his team needed him to step up, which helped settle things down and give the Leafs a chance to extend their lead.

This may be <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-practice-notes-stolarz-misses-practice-rest-day-holmberg-tavares-nylander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stolarz's first rodeo as a playoff starter</a>, but he didn't show any signs of inexperience in Game 1, according to Belfour.

" I believe he looked calm in the net,  he looked like he was having fun. You gotta enjoy those moments," he said. " Sometimes, if you're reading headlines and you're on social media, I think that pressure can get to a younger fella, and you don't always play your best when you put too much pressure on yourself.  It seemed like he was, you know, in his groove, he was seeing the puck well, and he was calm in that he wasn't outta control."

The Leafs did a great job of setting the tone, but the grind has only just begun. It does not get any easier as the Senators will certainly be coming out looking to get back on track in Game 2 in an attempt to even the series before it shifts to our Nation's capital.

" Their preparation for Game 2 should have started the minute they got in the locker room. There's no time for celebration right now," Belfour said. "You start preparing as soon as you get in that locker room, you get in the ice bath, you take care of yourself, get in the gym, cool down properly and get a good meal, and you get home and get some good sleep. And that's how you start getting ready. Then today you get back on the ice and or watch some video, and you get prepared for Game 2 like it's gonna be an all-out war."

You can watch the full interview with Belfour down below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMg7S6w7Gs

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