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3 Takeaways After the Toronto Maple Leafs First 3 Games

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stops a shot against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stops a shot against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 13: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Jack Campbell is a Clear Cut No. 1 Goalie

The debate is clearly over as to whether or not Jack Campbell is a number-one goalie, as he’s been brilliant in the first three games.

Despite coming in cold against Ottawa on Thursday night, Campbell didn’t allow a goal and helped keep his team in the fight. They didn’t end up winning that night, but it was a huge confidence boost to know that Campbell is ready anytime he’s call upon.

Not only was he great in relief in Ottawa, but he’s been close to perfect in the other two games he’s started. In three appearances, Campbell has a 0.86 GAA and .968 SV%. Those numbers are obviously going to regress as the season continues, but after the first week of the season, Campbell is clearly ready for the number-one job.

Now that Petr Mrazek is out for 14 days, Campbell will have to play the majority starts and that shouldn’t scare anyone. The biggest issue the Leafs ran into in year’s past, was that they would score four goals but they’d lose 5-4 because of goaltending.

If Campbell can continue to allow two or less goals per night, Toronto’s offense is way too powerful to not score three goals a night. As a result, they’re going to win a large percentage of their games if Campbell keeps this play up.

If anyone is still questioning Campbell as the number-one guy, they need to stop it, because he’s the real deal.

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