Toronto Maple Leafs: Tampa Making the Final Is Not Reassuring

Some people may, in the next few days, paint a story that the Toronto Maple Leafs should be reassured by Tampa making the Stanley Cup Final.

That should absolutely not be the case. Just because the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to take them to seven games, doesn’t mean we should be proud.

The only possible reason to be proud would’ve been defeating them in the first round and preventing any chance of a three-peat.

[Editor’s Note: Technically the Leafs are the only team to beat them in  a playoff round, it’s just that one of the games didn’t count].

Toronto Maple Leafs Lost To A Better Team

Whatever way you look at it, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to a better team. Better in the sense that they scored more goals when it counted than the Leafs.

Granted, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to outscore them in a playoff series this year, but they didn’t score more when it really counted in Game 6 or Game 7.

Of course, it’s reassuring to see Tampa in the Stanley Cup Final if you want to play the hypothetical game.

After all, if the Maple Leafs defeated Tampa, they’d have also swept the Florida Panthers and undone the New York Rangers.

This is where this type of thinking is foolish. There is no reassurance to Tampa making it all the way, at least not on the basis of it somehow meaning Toronto would’ve done the same.

Fact is, this Tampa Bay Lightning side found another gear after only just getting past the Leafs. If indeed Toronto had cleared the first round, they too would’ve needed to find an extra gear.

Whether the team had that extra gear, I’m not all that certain. You could certainly see frailties against Tampa and if they’d have made it to New York, there’s every chance Toronto would’ve been out-duelled in net.

People sometimes talk about this losing to the eventual winner like it means something. Simple fact – it doesn’t.

The Lightning have once again proven themselves to be an absolute force in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, improving with every passing game. In fact, they arguably cleared the Leafs in first gear.

Perhaps this Stanley Cup Final is a little different this year; no offence to the Dallas Stars or Montreal Canadiens, but the Colorado Avalanche are the truest challenge Tampa have faced.

Whatever the outcome though; much like the Canadiens making the Final last season – the outcome will still be hollow for the Toronto Maple Leafs.