The Only Thing That Can Stop the Toronto Maple Leafs Is the Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be playing the Montreal Canadiens in a best of seven game series starting tonight.
The Canadiens are no doubt a tough opponent and play hard nosed-style of hockey. However, this Toronto Maple Leafs team should make it past the Canadiens and to the Conference finals if they get average goaltending or better.
Full stop.
They have proven time and again that they are the best team team in the North Division throughout the entirety of the season.
At the end of the regular season, the Leafs had been first place in the division since the end of January, which is the longest time a team has been in first place in their division this season. They had also rarely lost any 2-3 game stretches against any individual team.
While they haven proven time and again that they are the best team in the North Division, it is now that time where they need to be all in on this being their season to make a long playoff run. There are a bunch of players on this team that want to win a cup very badly, and are going to be competing hard every shift.
The Toronto Maple Leafs last 2021 playoff game could be Jumbo Joe Thornton’s farewell to hockey.
Jason Spezza is a veteran leader who constantly earns the veteran’s minimum and started a fund Marlies players who had to take less money this year make their full salary. Wayne Simmonds has been on a lot of bad teams and has a real opportunity for a playoff run.
While these three players are important to the Leafs success, they are all on the fourth line and will play less minutes than the majority of the Leafs other forwards. Despite that, one of the most important things about these playoffs is to finally help one of the league’s best ever players – Joe Thornton – get the championship he has long deserved.
Auston Matthews has won the Rocket Richard trophy by scoring 41 goals in 52 games, the most goals in the NHL. Mitch Marner is a top 5 point producer in the NHL. John Tavares is a point per game player in Toronto and the captain of the team. William Nylander and Zach Hyman are two terrific top six forwards. The list continues with veterans such and Nick Foligno and a bunch of other good depth players.
While this Leafs core is known for their scoring abilities, their defense at times has been more impressive than the offense. TJ Brodie’s arrival has been Kyle Dubas’ second best move besides signing Tavares. Him and Morgan Rielly have proven to be a great two way pairing and have generated terrific offensive and defensive production.
In order for a long playoff run, Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl need to be the shutdown pairing they have been at many points throughout the season. While they have been great through many long stretches of the regular season, they are sometimes victim of letting in some weak goals against. Leafs fans hope that they can play at their best in the playoffs.
The rise of Rasmus Sandin has gotten many Leafs fans excited about the future of the blue-line. Sandin has been so impressive in his limited amount of games this season. His defensive and offensive poise is off the charts for such a young defensemen. He can break the puck out of the zone so beautifully while being a force on defense with big hits and steady defensive play. Sandin paired with either Zach Bogosian or Travis Dermott is one of the best third pairing in the league.
Dermott has also looked extremely solid on the right side with Sandin and they could play together in the playoffs if Bogosian is or isn’t healthy. Bogosian played well during his time in Tampa Bay playing many hard minutes on the penalty kill when the team won the Stanley Cup.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were only able to start their starting goalie in 24 games this year – not even half of the schedule. In total, the Leafs used four goalies, which, besides Andersen included Jack Campbell, David Rittich and Michael Hutchinson.
The Leafs were sandbagged last season by their 24th ranked 5v5 goaltending, and this could have been the team’s Achille’s Heel again this season, if not for the incredible performance of former back-up, turned playoff starter, Jack Campbell.
While it is Jack Campbell who got the nod as the starting goaltender, I don’t think many Leafs fans care whether it is Jack Campbell or Frederik Andersen who is the starting goalie, as long as they play their best and don’t let any bad goals at the wrong time. That’s what it comes down too, making the right save at the right time. The Leafs two goalies must play their best whenever they are assigned to play in order for the team to go on a long playoff run.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a good shot at making a deep playoff run. For their best chance at success, they need average to above average goaltending. As well, the team cannot find a way to Leaf it up with a hot goalie on the other side.
What the Leafs Playoff Lineup Should Look Like. dark. Next
This could be the year Leafs Nation. Everyone on the team needs to give it there all on every sift. No excuses this year, let’s go deep.