Morgan Rielly tries to hit new level for Leafs in first post-season
WASHINGTON — Morgan Rielly’s right eye was tinged with yellow and purple with a scrape underneath and there was more damage on the bridge of his nose.
These were the last remaining signs of a trying regular season for the Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, who’s aiming to reach a higher level in his first NHL post-season. Leafs head coach Mike Babcock thought Rielly might have played his finest game of the year in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals, a 24-minute effort in a 3-2 overtime defeat.
But Rielly wasn’t so sure.
“It’s been so long, I can’t really remember all the games this year,” said Rielly ahead of Game 2 on Saturday night. “You just want to go out there and you want your next game to be the best one of the year and then you want your next one after that to be better.”