Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden focused on preparing for Game 3 after two road games in Cleveland. He said the team had only about 25 minutes of play matching the desired style, and that Cleveland’s predictability and pace control needed to be flipped. Gruden described video days and practice reminders to ensure readiness, emphasizing playing on Cleveland’s heels and staying alert on home ice. He praised Ben Danford’s early playoff performances, noting he is unafraid of big moments, has prior high-level experience, and has grown stronger, quicker, and more integrated with the group. He also indicated the matchup and Danford’s skating against Cleveland influenced the decision to use him in the playoffs.
"For us, after watching it, we had a couple of good video days. There are a couple of adjustments we will have to make for us to be more prepared and ready for a team that is pretty predictable. They're kind of dictating the pace of play. We want to make sure we flip that on them, especially on our home ice. The players know exactly what we need to do. We had a couple of good reminders and one practice for us to make sure we're ready. It is an important game. We all know that. We want to make sure they're playing on their heels, and we are on our toes, for sure."
"He is not afraid of the moment. He steps right in. He has played some big games, whether it is World Juniors or the World Championships. He has been on that stage before. He has been around the group for a couple of training camps now. It is a little bit easier, coming in and knowing players. He has gotten bigger, stronger, and a little bit quicker from what I remember. It is amazing how that changes so fast when you are only 18 years old. He has fit right in. You can see he is not afraid of the moment. I am sure, as he gets more confident, the consistency will come, the more he plays. He will actually make a big difference for us as we continue to move forward."
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