Toronto Maple Leafs: Top Seeds Keep Dropping

The Toronto Maple Leafs have pushed the Boston Bruins to the brink of elimination.

With a great defensive game, and the amazing goaltending of Frederick Andersen, the Toronto Maple Leafs were victorious Friday night, hanging on for a 2-1 victory.

This puts the Leafs one win away from the second round.

The higher seeded Boston Bruins are now in danger of joining several other top seeds in what is quickly becoming one of the stranger first rounds in memory.

First Round Upsets the Norm This Year

The Tampa Bay Lightning were the best team in the NHL by over 20 points.

They lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in four games.  The Jackets were one of the best eighth seeds ever, having gone “all-in” at the trade deadline and upgrading their roster significantly.

In addition, their top four of David Savard (some think he’s a legit Norris candidate) Ryan Murray, Seth Jones and Zach Werenski is absolutely bonkers.  Still, it was shocking that they beat Tampa at all, let alone in four games.

Joining Tampa on the sidelines is the second best team in the NHL, by the standings anyways, the Calgary Flames.  They lost to the surprising Avalanche who barely qualified for the playoffs.

The Islanders beat the Penguins who have won three Cups and continue to have one of the best teams in hockey.  If you don’t follow the Islanders closely, this might not have seemed like a big upset, but the fact is the Islanders are a non-playoff team hiding behind a goalie having one of the best seasons in recent NHL history.

Robin Lehner beat the Penguins with a .956 save percentage.

The Predators are tied at 2  with the Stars.  The Sharks are down 3-2 to the Golden Knights.  The Jets are down to the Blues. The Hurricanes and Capitals are tied at 2.  And of course, the Bruins are down to the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

It is not impossible that the Flames, Lightning, Jets, Capitals, Bruins, Sharks, Predators and Penguins all lose.

If that happened, the Islanders and the Leafs would be the only two of the top ten teams left.  The Islanders would be the top seed in the NHL in round two!!

That would be absolutely crazy.

Standings aside, the NHL’s main contenders this year were considered to the Lightning, Sharks, Preds, Leafs, Bruins, Penguins, Flames and Jets.  It’s entirely possible that only one of those teams makes the second round.

It’s been absolutely crazy, but also really fun.

Here is hoping that the Toronto Maple Leafs can find a way to win one of their last two games and get to the second round.