Toronto Maple Leafs Prove They’re The Same Old Leafs

For the first time in months, the Toronto Maple Leafs played, what felt like, a meaningful game against the Boston Bruins.

Obviously, it wasn’t that meaningful as a win or loss wouldn’t change much in the standings, but a rematch against your nemesis and the best team in hockey on Saturday night is as big as it gets for the Toronto Maple leafs in January.

As we all know, the Bruins have had the Leafs number for the past decade. Starting with the Game 7 collapse in 2013, Boston has continued to break the hearts of Toronto fans in every playoff match-up they’ve had since.

The series’ have always been tight, ending in seven games every time, but the Bruins have continued to win the games that matter the most.

On Saturday night, the Leafs had an opportunity to show their dominance and prove that this 2022-23 squad is different. The Bruins are the best team in hockey so it would be tough, but the Leafs are right there.

They’re second in the Atlantic Division and will more than likely have to face the Bruins once again this year if they have any chance at winning a Stanley Cup.

A win wouldn’t have changed any results from the past, but it would’ve at least showed Boston that they’re someone who should be taken serious this year.

Toronto Maple Leafs Lose a Game They Should Have Won

When Auston Matthews tied the game at 3-3 with a spectacular goal, he celebrated like an idiot, which was a mistake, as Boston got the last laugh.

Can we stop celebrating every goal by throwing your hands in the air like “you’re the man” when it’s not an overtime winning goal? If you’re going to do something like that, make sure it puts your team ahead or it’s a GWG, but not when you tie it up.

The Leafs had every opportunity to win the game on Saturday night, but obviously they didn’t. They never win when when they need to and they continued to show that they’re same pathetic team they’ve always been.

There hasn’t been a regular season game that’s really mattered since the home-opener or the first Borje Salming Tribute and they’ve lost both of those games. Winning a regular season game in December feels easy for this team but when they need to win a big one, they struggle.

Matt Murray was pretty good in this game, stopping 30 of 34 shots, but when they needed a save, he buckled. That last Boston goal should’ve been stopped, as it wasn’t that difficult of a shot, despite having a man in his crease.

At the end of the day, this is what we expect from the Leafs. Just like the LA Chargers who blew a lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the same night, the same teams seem to lose in the same fashion every year.

The Leafs better not look at this loss as another loss. Their defense needs to improve, their goaltending needs to get stronger and they need another forward in the top-six.

If this loss taught me anything, it’s that there’s zero chance they make a playoff run this year, because the Leafs are always gonna Leaf. What a disappointing game from a bunch of players who never win when they need to.