3 Reasons Why Toronto Maple Leafs Need to End Series Tonight

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 25: Auston Matthews #34, Jake Muzzin #8 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs congratulate goaltender Jack Campbell #36 on their win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

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MONTREAL, QC – MAY 24: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Give Jack Campbell a Break

Prior to Game 4, there was a debate on who the starting goalie should have been for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since the team was playing in a back-to-back, many fans thought Freddie Andersen should have started, because the analytics would show that playing the same goalie back-to-back is a bad decision.

Fortunately for the Leafs sake, Sheldon Keefe didn’t follow the analytics and started Jack Campbell, instead of Andersen. Campbell not only got the win, but was perfect on the night, making 32 saves on route to his first career playoff shutout.

In four games so far, Campbell’s made 110 of 114 saves and has been the best goalie of the playoffs.

Although he’s been playing great, a win in Game 5 would be huge for him. Throughout the regular season, Campbell had plenty of “maintenance days” and struggled through some injuries, so the less games he plays, the better.

If Toronto wins, they probably wouldn’t start the second round until next Wednesday or Thursday, so five-to-six days of practice and rest would be huge for Campbell’s health, as they prepare for the Winnipeg Jets.

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