Predicting the Toronto Maple Leafs Path Through the Qualifying Round

Game 1

Expect to see Toronto come out flying to start this series. Not only do they recognize that they fell short of expectations this season, but this is a prime opportunity to turn over a new leaf from their recent playoff struggles.

Action will pick up immediately following puck drop and there will be little to no time for these teams to get re-acquainted and ease into the round. It will be a more physical series than expected.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will get on the board early and control the pace of the game throughout it, dominating with their speed and creativity. They’ll lead the whole way through.

Columbus will eventually score, but at a point in the game that it simply won’t be enough to impact the outcome of this one.

Although slow starts have become the expectation of Frederik Andersen in the past, his peak capabilities will be on display from the get-go and he’ll shatter that pattern.

Familiar names like Mitch Marner and William Nylander will do what they do best to set the tone, while newer faces like Nick Robertson quickly make themselves known throughout the opposing dressing room.

Toronto’s stars will shine brighter to start this series and they’ll take Game 1 by a score of 5-1.

Game 2

John Tortorella will not let his Blue Jackets be embarrassed. They’ll come out far more prepared for Toronto’s onslaught and force themselves into a position to more easily reciprocate.

The Maple Leafs will stick to their gameplan of quick breakouts and constant scoring attempts, it just won’t be as effective as it was in Game 1. After adjusting their approach, Columbus will generate a more successful shutdown.

In turn, the Blue Jackets will give themselves greater opportunity to make their chances count and earn the timely goals they failed to score in the first meeting.

Some offensive sparks will still fly throughout this game for Toronto, as Matthews will continue his tear, but their defense fails this initial test.

Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin will lead the team in ice time, putting forth solid efforts and doing their part. Unfortunately, a less experienced Travis Dermott will have a game he’d like to forget.

It won’t be on Andersen, who will put in a quality night’s work and avoid getting pulled.

Frustration and missed chances will be the storyline for the Maple Leafs, with Columbus winning this one 4-2.

Game 3

The series may have balanced out on the score sheet, but it won’t be because the Maple Leafs stopped playing the style that makes them as dangerous as are capable of being.

Persistence will prove to be Toronto’s advantage, as they’ll tip the scales back in their favour with complete control from start to finish in Game 3. They will control the play and Columbus will chase it.

The Maple Leafs will quite literally skate circles around the Blue Jackets. Toronto’s youthful energy will continue to fuel them while Columbus feels their fire begin to fade.

With every match, the Maple Leafs will enter stronger than the one before it while their style of play will continually further the breakdown of the Blue Jackets.

The loss in Game 2 will sting the leaders in their locker room to the point that it will be felt by all throughout Toronto’s lineup.

John Tavares will take over and be the most influential skater with every shift and Jason Spezza will prove his post-season value to the organization.

With a 3-0 victory, this will be as complete of a game as the Maple Leafs have had in recent history. It will set them up to close out the series.

Game 4

For the third time in as many years, Toronto will enter a series-deciding game with the chance to move on and straight into the next round. Unlike the previous two attempts, they aren’t going to let this one slip away.

It’s not to say that Columbus will make it easy for them. This is sure to be the closest match of this series, as both teams will have it all on the line.

One needs a win to move on and the other is done for the year with a loss.

Toronto will see more of the shutdown style that Columbus can effectively deploy, with the Blue Jackets straight to relying on their defensive approach from the start.

As Columbus focuses more on keeping pucks out of their net and less on getting them towards Toronto’s, the Maple Leafs will take advantage of the few missteps the Blue Jackets award them.

While producers like Marner, Nylander, Mathews, and Tavares make the plays expected of them to create chances, this will prove to be a defining game for Toronto’s defense.

It won’t just be Rielly leading the way, as Cody Ceci will find some redemption from a less than stellar season and be a major influence in contributing to closing the door to those that try to bypass him.

And Andersen will finally get the type of support he deserves to close out a series.

After a back and forth battle, with highlight-reel saves at both ends of the ice all game, the Maple Leafs will take it down by a score of 2-1 and win the best-of-5 series.

There’s no doubt that Columbus should not be taken lightly. Toronto is just simply a more powerful team. Couple that with their drive for post-season progress and it becomes clear that this is theirs to lose.

If the Maple Leafs play like they’re expected to, then this round will be done before the Blue Jackets ever have a chance to really get into it.

With hockey back, discussions and debates are bound to follow. It makes being a fan that much more fun.