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Toronto Maple Leafs: Capitals a Better Match-Up Than Senators

By James Tanner

Mar 28, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs will play the Washington Capitals in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.

For some, this was a greeted as terrible news.  The Toronto Maple Leafs lost last night and blew their chance to face the Senators.  The thing is, they didn’t blow it and they might have gotten a better matchup.

Sure, the Leafs were up 2-0, and sure, they have a certain propensity for blowing leads.  (Though I contend this is almost certainly just random bad luck appearing as a lack of a critical skill. Fact is, post-second-period leads are rock solid in the NHL and it seems highly unlikely a team could be the best first-period team and the worst third-period team at the same time, if both titles weren’t almost totally random).  But last night, the game was decided when the Leafs had two defenseman (Zaitsev and Polak) exit with injuries. (Hopefully minor).

I don’t think losing a game with your back-up goalie in and two defenseman hurt is really “blowing it.”

Besides, Ottawa wasn’t a dream match-up.

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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

The Leafs lost three times to the Senators this season.  Two of those games, however, were in OT/Shootout.  Since those games are random, it is kind of a downer to know that the Leafs have to play the Caps while the Sens have home-ice advantage in the first round.

That being said, I don’t think a Senators match-up was a good one for the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs.  The Senators might have the most creative coach in hockey.  Guy Boucher has the Senators where they are because of their tight checking, offense stifling system.

Despite having a roster that many people picked to be bottom-five in the entire league, the Senators managed to bore their way to the Playoffs.

Even though the Capitals are a better defensive team than Ottawa (but not by as much as they should be, considering the roster disparity) they don’t choke off play in the same boring way. Perhaps it’s just my own misgivings and not anything concrete, but I think the Leafs can play more their own style of game against Washington.  The Senators will just take away the neutral zone and try to win 1-0 every game.  It might actually work.

At worst, watching a Washington series will be way, way more fun.

Plus, the Leafs would be expected to beat the Senators.  Standings aside, no one can say with a straight face the Senators have a better roster.  They would have been expected to win. Against the Capitals however……no pressure.

The season is a success. Who cares if Washington wins? They are expected to.  Don’t get swept, and the season is a five-star Cinderella story.

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