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Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 7

By James Tanner

Mar 27, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) and forward Mitchell Marner (16) and forward William Nylander (88) and defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) celebrate a goal by forward John Tavares (91) during the second period against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) and forward Mitchell Marner (16) and forward William Nylander (88) and defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) celebrate a goal by forward John Tavares (91) during the second period against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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So it all comes down to this for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews first overall in 2015, and tried to singlehandedly bring the world’s most conservative sports league into the 21st Century.

Wrestling the grip of the NHL’s most powerful team from the grasp of the typical “Hockey Men” the Leafs have faced the resistance of a lazy legacy media, and some of their older fans, they have succeeded in everything they set out to do.

Except, you know, actually winning.

It’s been weird, because despite all the criticisms lobbed at them over the years, they have really just been unlucky: From the frozen salary cap ruining their best laid plans, to Columbus setting an NHL save percentage record, Montreal winning two overtime games against an injury ravaged lineup, and the refs conspired to force a game seven against Tampa.

It sounds like so many excuses that it hardly matters if they’re all true.

So it’s time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to put all that to bed and come out and play the best game of their lives.

Toronto Maple Leafs Must Get It Done

Fair or not, it all comes down to one game.  And it’s definitely not fair, and I’ve gone my whole life without ever saying “it is what it is,” so I’ll just say that whatever happens, this team outplayed the back-to-back Cup Champs and should already have made it to the second round.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have played an awesome series. They have been the better team more often, and with one exception, could have won every game so far. They deserved to win at least four of them.

The Leafs best players have been the best players in this series.  John Tavares stepped up last game, and this game, I expect Auston Matthews to have the best game of his life.

The Leafs have been the better 5v5 team.

Jack Campbell has been the best goalie.

They know they can beat Tampa, and I don’t even know what else to say. The game is part of triple header of game seven’s today, which is in itself one of the coolest things ever.

Jack Campbell will obviously start in net, while the Toronto Maple Leafs will go with the same lineup that they used in the last game.

Next. Win It for Spezza. dark

No point in changing it now.

Nothing left to do now but crack open a few beverages and enjoy the game.

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