LEAF NOTES: Ottawa yet to show Toronto its veteran influence

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The Maple Leafs do not have a monopoly on being battle-tested in the Battle of Ontario.

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Ottawa has Linus Ullmark in goal, 1,300-game veteran Claude Giroux and were expected to bring in Travis Hamonic on defence and Nick Cousins, a Stanley Cup winner with Florida last season, either for Game 2 or soon after.

That should eventually factor into a series where Ottawa’s lack of post-season pedigree has been a talking point.

“As a group we understand how we need to play, in regular season and playoffs,” Giroux said Tuesday morning as the upbeat Senators prepped for what they vow will be a more disciplined, bounce-back effort. “We play our game the best we can, then we give ourselves a chance to win.”

Little of that was evidenced in Game 1 as they stumbled into penalties and seemed intimidated by the noise at Scotiabank Arena, a rink they usually play well in.

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“You step on the ice for the first time in the playoffs, at 37 (his age) or 20, it doesn’t matter, you’re excited, there’s a lot of emotions,” Giroux said. “You just have to be able to control that.”

The presence of fourth-liner Cousins would partly counter three Leafs who were on that champion Panthers team — Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Steven Lorentz.

“He’s won, he has played in pressure situations and he’s feisty,” said Ottawa coach Travis Green, though he wouldn’t confirm if Cousins would start.

Centre Shane Pinto thinks the nerves will be gone by Tuesday’s puck drop.

“It was awesome, coming out with all those towels (Leafs fans were waving Sunday),” he conceded. “They did a great job, it was a fun atmosphere to play in. But we just have to bring it at the start.”

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BRADY BUILT TOUGH

The Senators don’t expect captain Brady Tkachuk to be bothered by the ‘Brady Sucks’ chant heard loud and clear in Game 1. It’s one of the few times Scotiabank Arena has generated something that vocal for an opposing player.

Tkachuk looked a bit rattled and missed a breakaway that could’ve changed Game 1’s outcome.

“In my eyes it’s a compliment for Brady,” Giroux said. “You don’t do that (chant) if he actually sucks.

“I’ve got booed in Pittsburgh before (as a member of the state rival Philadelphia Flyers) and I’ll be honest, it’s the best games to play in.”

Pinto insisted Tkachuk will brush it all off and the jeering would only add “fuel to the fire” for him going forward.

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TICKETS ARE SCARCE

Naturally, the Leafs and Sens players and staff are being inundated with ticket requests. The veterans usually let a family member take charge.

“The understanding with your buddies is they think you get free ones,” Leafs forward Scott Laughton said with a grin. “That isn’t really the case. I got a couple of texts about (seats) for the Ottawa games and said I’m paying the same as you, going on Stub Hub.“

LOOSE LEAFS

Adam Gaudette of the Sens minded his words when talking about the cross-checking penalty he received against Auston Matthews in Game 1. From the sniping between the two after, Gaudette obviously felt the Leafs captain sold it. “I don’t know, could’ve been a call, could’ve not been,” Gaudette, a former Marlie, said. “He’s a big boy I thought” … For a product of Calahoo, Alta., Craig Berube is getting a crash course in the history of the Battle of Ontario. “I watched it (from a distance), I didn’t understand it at first,” the Leafs coach said. “But there’s some hatred there for sure. I enjoy it” … Green likened Giroux to a peer such as Washington’s Alex Ovechkin. “He has a passion for the game and loves coming to the rink. That’s one of the biggest things in staying in the league at that age.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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