The Toronto Maple Leafs Are Rewriting History in Round One

Any fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs remembers the game-seven collapse against the Boston Bruins in 2013. Toronto had a 4-1 lead in the third period and blew it. Since then, fans have been plagued with the “it was 4-1 insult” from other fan bases.

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs were trailing 4-1 in the third period. With 10:16 left in the third period, Toronto began their epic comeback. First, it was the goal by Auston Matthews with 10:16 left to make it a 4-2 game. Then with 7:31 left, Matthews tips in a point shot by William Nylander on the power play, and it is now a 4-3 game.

In game three on Saturday, April 22nd, the Maple Leafs were losing in the third, and they found a way to tie the game and win it in overtime. Fans were on the edge of their seats, hoping to see the Maple Leafs do it again. With just 3:56 left in the third period, Morgan Rielly scores Toronto’s fourth goal with a shot from the point, and the game is tied 4-4. Rielly’s goal in game three was the overtime winner, and now he scores to help Toronto take the game to overtime. He is Mr. Clutch right now.

Just like in game three, the Maple Leafs would complete the comeback by winning the game in overtime. Mark Giordano took a shot from the point, and Alex Kerfoot tipped the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy just 4:14 into overtime to win the game on the power play. Toronto now has a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with game five on Thursday, April 27th in Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs Looking to Win Series in Game Five

The Toronto Maple Leafs are leading this series because the players counted on to produce are producing. Mitch Marner is leading the way with ten points through four games. He is the current NHL points leader in these playoffs. Matthews and Nylander both have seven points. Rielly has six points, and team captain John Tavares has four points. All five of these players are scoring at a point-per-game pace or better. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

For a team trying to get over the hump and finally get passed the first round, fans couldn’t ask for more from the team’s core players. Toronto’s core five have also received help from trade deadline acquisition Ryan O’Reilly. He has two goals and five assists for seven points in four games. The Maple Leafs could use more secondary scoring throughout the lineup, but for now, this formula is working.

Toronto will be looking to win the series in game five on home ice this Thursday. The Maple Leafs know that Tampa will not make it easy, but games three and four weren’t easy either. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Fans hope Toronto finds a way.