Toronto Maple Leafs: Top Five Moments from 2016-17 (Videos)
It’s time to joyfully reflect on the Toronto Maple Leafs 2016-17 season with videos.
I’ve carefully narrowed down my top five Toronto Maple Leafs moments from the 2016-17 season.
And I did say with videos, so expect to not only read about my favorite moments but to see and relive them again.
I’m hoping that most of you will be able to agree with this list, but if you don’t, you’re more than welcome to interact by commenting with your own variation of your top five.
I always enjoy reading your comments and replying, so be sure to get in on that.
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Anyways, back to what’s important.
The 2016-17 season was the Leafs best in a long time, a season that will go down in history as the best rookie season in NHL history.
The last time the Leafs were that successful in a full 82 game season was in the 2003-04 season, ironically the last time they made the playoffs, excluding the 2012-13 shortened season.
For you long suffering Leafs fans, the ones that have been alive for most of their Stanley Cup drought, this is for you.
Actually, this is for every Leafs fan because we’ve all suffered until now.
Even at 22 years old, I remember when the Leafs were pretty decent, but never when they were this good.
That being said, let’s dive right into this, starting with number five.
Centennial Classic Win
Okay, so I have to be honest with this one to kick off our list.
I never watched this game because I was in the Bahamas on vacation.
I know, I know, it’s disgraceful, but I realize the importance of this goal for Auston Matthews and the win for the team.
Not only was it an important goal, but it was one of his best of the entire season.
The puck bounces off the back boards and comes out the other side where Matthews is already, giving him a chance to backhand it into the net.
He creates the scoring chance and finished it off for a thing of beauty.
The emotion behind this game for everyone involved is what gets me and why it deserves to be on this list.
Onto number four.
Double Overtime Win
Now, this was a very special moment.
It was the second game of the series, the first one being won by the Washington Capitals in overtime, meaning the Leafs were already down one and then this happened.
In double overtime, Brian Boyle gets the puck behind the net, takes a look behind his shoulder and drops it back without looking.
Kasperi Kapanen’s there to collect the pass and bury the goal, sealing the Leafs win and tying the series at one a piece, heading to Toronto for game three.
What an emotional goal (second of the night) for Kapanen who had been fighting for a roster spot.
It took four and a half hours from the start of that game to the game winning goal for it to conclude and of course, it ended in amazing fashion.
Onto number three.
Breaking Wendel Clark’s Record
Okay, so I had to choose between Matthews 40th goal and his franchise record breaking 35th goal and settled on the latter of the two.
His 40th goal was amazing, don’t get me wrong, but his 35th goal meant so much more in my opinion because of who the record belonged to before and how long it lasted.
Wendel Clark set the Leafs rookie goal mark in the 1984-85 season with 34 and was ironically the only other first overall selection by the Leafs.
Matthews isn’t the type of player to get very emotional on the ice and I’m not talking about tears or anything, just excitement.
However, you see the smile on his face here because he knew what it meant to break that record.
Wasn’t the prettiest goal ever, but that doesn’t matter.
Onto number two.
Playoff Clinching Win
Ah, yes, how could this one be left out?
Simply put, it couldn’t be.
Here’s the game winning goal scored by Connor Brown to clinch a playoff spot for the Leafs, the last one available in the league.
Now, I could’ve selected Curtis McElhinney’s massive save on Sidney Crosby to keep the lead or Matthews 40th goal of the season, but Brown’s redirect stole the show.
What a thrilling game to watch, from start to finish.
I actually went streaking after this goal was scored on my street in Virgina, but we’ll just keep that to ourselves.
Onto number one, have you guessed it yet?
Auston Matthews Four Goal Debut
Yes, you’ve guessed it that Matthews four goal debut is number one on my list.
Why?
It’s simple.
When Matthews scored his fourth goal of his very first NHL game, I realized how bright the future is for the Leafs.
I was overjoyed because things looked like they were coming together faster than any of us could’ve ever imagined.
I thought to myself, we finally have a player that creates real excitement and this was just the first game of the year.
More than just one player, but you get the point.
Those are my top five moments from the 2016-17 season and like I said earlier, feel free to share your top five in the comments section below.
There were so many more great moments, but to me, these five stand out the most.