Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa
The Leafs were the better team. They won four games, one of which didn’t count. Then in game seven, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner played the best game of their lives, only it was countered by an equally great game by Andrei Vasilevskiy.
In order to lose, the Leafs had to get screwed in game six, then get beaten in a best vs best matchup vs one of the all-time best players in NHL history.
I hate that they lost, but in this series they proved every single thing their critics said about them wrong. They were a team built for the playoffs, they were dangerous, deep, physical, they never quit, and the bottom line is they were playing against the 2 x Stanley Cup Champions and they were the better team, regardless of who ultimately won.
I wish they won, but there is no shame in losing when you outplay the greatest team of your generation.
A Conclusion You Will Hate
The Toronto Maple Leafs have played 19 playoff games over the last three seasons, and they have managed to be the best team by Expected Goals Percentage in 15 of those games.
Expected Goals Percentage is the best indicator of results. To lose three series, over 19 games, when you were the best team in 15 of those games is so improbable, so unlikely, that the Leafs shouldn’t face any criticism for failing to advance.
This is why the team didn’t fire their GM, Coach, President nor did they trade any of their best players. The reason the Toronto Maple Leafs are back again for another 82 games with the exact same team that has lost six years in a row, in the first round, is because every single way that we have to evaluate hockey players and games says that this is a team that should win, can win and will win.
I for one, look forward to another 82 games of greatness, followed by two weeks of anxiety. I hope they win, but the fact is, even in the best possible scenario, they will begin the first round with a 30% chance of losing.
They built a team worthy of being a champion, and the funs comes in seeing that translate from theory to reality. I hope it works out, but the fact that it might not is the only reason we even care. So let’s settle in and try to enjoy some hockey. This team is great, we are lucky to be able to watch it, so let’s have some fun.