Toronto Maple Leafs: Not Just a One-Man Wrecking Crew

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 10: Patrick Marleau
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 10: Patrick Marleau

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still better than average without Auston Matthews.

When Matthews is in the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they’re far better than average, but they proved last night that they’re not just a one-man wrecking crew.

What a game, I know it wasn’t the best for lighting the lamp or all of that fancy stuff, but I thought Frederik Andersen played great and players were more responsible all over the ice.

That’s really all I ask of them.

The puck was turned over less, Tyler Bozak probably stole the puck away more times than the entire Leafs turned it over and Mitch Marner looked good in his own end.

Now, I was out until about 1 AM and when I got back, I was getting ready for bed, but then I realized there was a game that happened and I had to watch it.

I mozied on downstairs and sat down to watch the pregame ceremony (really well done), then was there for the next three hours watching the most entertaining game (for me) of the season.

Lifted my wrist to check the time and it was just about 4 AM, so naturally, I slept in until 1 PM today.

Hockey’s life, eh?

Team Effort

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According to the boys in the TSN booth, the Leafs haven’t swept a homestead since 2014 and this is also the first time since the late 1960’s that they’ve beaten the Boston Bruins five times in a row.

Take that.

The win has propelled them to number four overall in the NHL standings (22 points), an optimal position to be in as we count down the days until American Thanksgiving.

Remember that the holiday is usually a good indicator of which teams will be in ‘playoff talk’ come that time of year and as I said, the Leafs are sitting good.

Their record for the record is 11-7-0 (sorry, not sorry) and I’m just going to say, wow, the Leafs haven’t lost in overtime this year (three wins in the extra inning) or in their one shootout.

Talk about closing games.

However, they need to continue to roll if they want to grab top honours and to do so, they’ll need another strong performance tonight against the Bruins (love the mini-series) and follow that up with taking advantage of poor play teams.

New Jersey’s hot, the Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes, Flordia Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes shouldn’t be the toughest of matchups but never count a team out.

Okay, over the course of the last several months, many of you have emailed me to tell me that you don’t like how I write in American English, well, I changed that today.

I’ve officially changed my settings to Canadian English, you’re welcome.

Thank You

And lastly, I just wanted to thank the men and women that have a do serve our country, your sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed and today is a day for you in which we not only remember, but commend.

We live in a country that we often take for granted, but I feel very fortunate to be Canadian and a lot of my safety and security is because of those serving on my behalf.

Next: The Roundest of Tables

I think I speak for everyone, but thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.