The Toronto Maple Leafs have clinched home ice advantage with a point against the Boston Bruins last night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs played an excellent game, but ultimately fell in the coin-flip that is 3 on 3 OT.
Regardless, the point was enough to ensure they will be at home when the playoffs open.
It is the second year in a row they have home-ice advantage. And while the result wasn’t optimal last year, they were the better team, and it took a horrible game by some anonymous referee to prevent their advancing in game six.
In game seven, the Leafs were the best team by a mile, but unfortunately, guaranteed first ballot hall of famer Andrei Vasilevskiy had the best game of his life.
What can you do?
Hopefully this year the Leafs will get a better result.
Toronto Maple Leafs Clinch Home Ice Advantage
It was a weird game for the Leafs on Thursday, as David Kampf led all forwards in 5v5 ice time, and the Marner, Tavares, Nylander line played the least.
The game was essentially meaningless, and the coach let the team’s lesser lights shine. The goal came from Lafferty and was assisted by Zach Aston-Reese who has about 200 points in the last couple of weeks.
Once again, Luke Schenn was completely dominated whenever he was on the ice. Boston had 17 shot attempts, the Leafs nine with Schenn on the ice. Shots were 12-4 in favour of Boston.
It is inexplicable that the Leafs added one of the worst players in the entire NHL at the trade deadline, and that they continue to run him out there despite mounting evidence that he isn’t. an NHL player.
As usual, love how the night in Boston turns on Charlie Coyle punching a Leaf in the back of the head and drawing the penalty on the play, followed up by the refs making and then unmaking a call, once the jumbotron played the replay and the Bruins screamed at them
— william nylander 4th-place lady byng voter (@mostlyleafies) April 7, 2023
On the bright side, Ryan O’Reilly made his return from injury. He has missed all but eight other games since being acquired from the Blues in early February.
Though he didn’t factor in the scoring, the Leafs had 77% puck-possession when he was on the ice and outshot Boston 8-4.
O’Reilly at the third centre position gives the Toronto Maple Leafs an absolutely crazy amount of centre depth and makes them extremely tough to matchup against. (all stats naturalstattrick.com).
The Toronto Maple Leafs have today off – as do the entire NHL – and will play the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night in a meaningless game.
The Leafs won last year’s first game 5-0, and still lost, so there is really no result we won’t be able to spin into a positive that night. The series, however will still be incredible tense.