The Toronto Maple Leafs Have Run Out of Excuses

Two weeks ago, when the Toronto Maple Leafs had their first-round playoff match-up set with the Montreal Canadiens I thought “what a great birthday present to myself.”

]The Toronto Maple Leafs were headed to the playoffs as a heavy favorite in the first round and the table was set for a strong playoff run.

Paired up against a Montreal Canadiens team that sputtered down the stretch and would not have even made the playoffs, if only the Calgary Flames hadn’t shot themselves in the foot. So, there we were, Leafs Nation, not only hoping but expecting a first-round win and beyond, this has to be the year, right? RIGHT!??

It was as if Maple Leafs fans were all hit with that flashing light from Men in Black and our memories of past performances were all erased. Then we all took a hard head shot and the memories came flushing back.

Toronto Maple Leafs Pathetic Playoff Performance

After dominating the first four games of the series the Toronto Maple Leafs lost two straight overtime games and then didn’t show a whole lot in game seven.

Every other year there seemed to be built in excuses; they were a team of rookies just getting a taste, they were still young but they pushed a good team to seven games, they were the underdog but had the series lead and just lost, they weren’t gritty enough for playoff hockey but now they have learned their lesson. What’s the excuse this year? What can Leafs Nation grasp at and say there is hope for next year? I am honestly asking because I do not have any answers.

The first four games of the series Toronto was in complete control of the series, and it really was not even close. Especially in game 2,3 and 4 where the Leafs held the lead for 59% of the three games, and Montreal only leading briefly in the game 2 for four minutes. In the last three games the Maple Leafs did not hold a lead for a single second. ( stats per nhl.com )

This was not the team that ran roughshod over the North Division all season. It was as if after game 4 the Monstars from Space Jam stole their playing abilities and they were just skating out there clueless. It was the most deflating, pathetic collapse that I have seen from this team, and that is saying a lot considering the recent history of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

So where do they go from here? Some are placing the blame on Sheldon Keefe, some are placing the blame on Brendan Shanahan, some think Kyle Dubas should bear the brunt of the blame, but many are focusing on the players.

Mitch Marner has been taking quite a bit of heat today, some of it justified, for not scoring a single goal in 18 playoff games so far with the Leafs. Both Marner and Mathews needed to have their best games in those elimination games and neither showed up in a truly meaningful way. In my opinion the whole team needs to take stock of what they really want in their careers and decide what direction this team goes.

If Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner want individual awards and accolades, they will have no problems accomplishing that. Matthews will get plenty of Rocket Richard trophies for his case at home, and Marner I’m sure will collect a few Selkes or Lady Byngs, maybe even an Art Ross at some point.

If that is what they desire they can continue to play the way they are now and they will have all the points and awards they could ever want. But if they want a Stanley Cup, they need to make drastic changes to their in game approach during the playoffs because right now their game is not going to take them anywhere near a Stanley Cup

. Hell, it can’t even get them out of the first round! This fan base deserves better and even the most devout fans are starting to get fed up.