Game 7 are two of the best words in professional sports, well, except if you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
For the third time in four years, the Toronto Maple Leafs will play a Game 7 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Instead of winning the series in overtime during Game 5 or Game 6, the Leafs gave the Montreal Canadiens life. Kudos to the Habs for their impressive comeback. Over the past two games, they’ve looked like a much more balanced team.
Toronto’s had their fair chances at winning their first playoff series since 2004, but the Canadiens have continued to bend, and not break. Led by their world-class goaltender, Carey Price has lived up to his $10.5M contract and has looked like the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner that he once was.
The Montreal Canadiens don’t have a forward on their roster who makes more than $5.5M per season. Instead, their money is heavily invested into Price and their top-two defenseman.
Toronto, on the other hand, is the opposite. Their current starting goalie, Jack Campbell, only makes $1.65M, while their three highest paid forwards, all make well over $10M. Both teams strategies have been criticized, but as we sit right now, they are both in the same situation, as they get set for Game 7.
Matthews and Marner Need To Play Best Game of The Season Tonight
Auston Matthews had arguably the greatest individual scoring season in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs this year, but he’s unfortunately been non-existent during the playoffs. With only one goal in six games, he’s generated a number of chances, but for whatever reason, the puck has seemed to miss the net in the biggest moments.
After watching Matthews score 41 goals in 52 games, and win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy, it felt like that high scoring rate would continue in the playoffs. However, as we’re all finding out, it’s a lot harder to score in the playoffs.
In order to stop the criticism that has lingered him all series, Matthews can erase all of that hate with one big game tonight. Although, I think his game has been good defensively in John Tavares’ absence, he makes $11.6M per year to score goals and that’s exactly what he needs to do tonight.
In 10 regular season games against Montreal this year, Matthews had seven goals and 14 points (stats: hockeyreference.com). Toronto needs that similar production from him, if they finally want to win a playoff series with this core group.
Matthews’ winger is in the exact same boat as him, as although they’ve shut down Montreal defensively, they’re paid the big bucks to perform offensively, and he needs to step it up.
Mitch Marner has three assists in six games, but the most concerning part about his game is his goal production. The 24-year-old has gone goal-less in his last 17 playoff games, with his last goal taking place during Game 1 of the First Round against the Boston Bruins in 2019.
For a player who makes $10.9M per season, they cannot go that long without scoring. Also, they shouldn’t say comments like this after a loss:
Mitch Marner: "We just didn't come ready to play at the start of the game. We really do have to start on time because it's getting said a lot, and it's not good enough."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) May 30, 2021
Marner’s comments immediately made me think of Mike Babcock, which is an awful thought to have. With a 3-2 series lead in the playoffs, the “not starting on time” excuse is unacceptable and every player in the room should be embarrassed for that.
Although Marner and Matthews have not lived up their expectations all series, the narrative could shift with one big game tonight. A game-winning goal by Matthews set up by Marner would send Leafs fans into a frenzy and we’d all forget about what had transpired over the past six games.
Having a great regular season is one thing, but stepping it up in the playoffs is a whole different animal. It’s time for the Toronto Maple Leafs big boys to show up and have the game of their lives, because if they don’t, I don’t know how much more suffering this fanbase can take.