Jon Cooper calls out Toronto's top players
After every playoff game, coaches need to be available for the media to ask questions, and after a blow out like last nights game, you know there was going to be some good questions asked that were going to set off the Tampa Bay Lightning's coach Jon Cooper.
During game 1, the Maple Leafs used O'Reilly at second line center and put John Tavares on the wing, but in game 2, the Maple Leafs used O'Reilly are third line center, putting Tavares back at center on the second line and Auston Matthews on the first.
Jon Cooper was asked if the game was more challenging due to their center depth, which he showed incredible support for his own players in his response:
Jon Cooper pushed back against a question about the #leafs improving their centre depth by dropping Ryan O'Reilly to the third line tonight:
"Give me Point, Cirelli and Paul all day. Against anybody in the league."
"Give me Point, Cirelli and Paul all day. Against anybody in the league."
Jon Cooper pushed back against a question about the #leafs improving their centre depth by dropping Ryan O'Reilly to the third line tonight:
"Give me Point, Cirelli and Paul all day. Against anybody in the league."� Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 21, 2023
This seemed more like the Lightning were hurting from missing two of their best defenceman in Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak, more than them struggling with line matchups.
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