10 Reasons Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Can Still Beat the Panthers

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The Toronto Maple Leafs may be down 3-0 in their second round series against the Florida Panthers, but you shouldn’t count them out just yet.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are down, but they are not out.

The hardest game to win is the fourth game, and it’s not like Florida is a great team.

In fact, they’re barely a good team. They just squeaked into the playoffs, and then pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NHL.

They’re obviously a decent enough team, but it’s not like they are unbeatable.

In game one, the Leafs were just goalied, there is nothing more to it. If they had any luck, they’ve have won that game by a touchdown.

In game two, again the Leafs were the better team. There isn’t a lot you can analyze here – sure they blew a two-goal lead, but they still deserved to win going away.

Game three wasn’t the Leafs best game, but they lost in overtime while not getting a single power-play, so that in itself is total b.s. The first time in over 100 years they didn’t get a power-play in a playoff game. Give me a break.

The Leafs are coming back for sure

Here’s why:

Feb 24, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl (3) warms upMandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

10 Reasons the Toronto Maple Leafs Can Win This Series

10. The Leafs beat the Panthers three times already this season.

There is a reason the Leafs were hoping to play the Panthers and not the Bruins. The Panthers are a decent team, but not a great one.

These are winnable games, and winning four in a row really isn’t as crazy as it sounds. The Leafs have won almost 70 percent of the points available to them over the last few years, and teams that are that good regularly win four in a row.

9. The Leafs are the better team.

They are deeper, more talented, and better in every way. The Leafs have more stars, a better blue-line, and better goaltending.

They’ve been the better team in two of three games, and they just haven’t gotten the luck. That can’t last forever. They are due to get some puck luck, and when you put that together with their being the more skilled team, it gives them every chance there is to come back and win this thing.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 20: Auston Matthews #34 and William Nylander (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

8. The Toronto Maple Leafs have hit 7 posts, maybe 8, in the last three games.

They are due. Not to mention, Sergei Bobrovsky is a mediocre NHL goalie at best. The fact that he’s crushing it right now just means he’s going to be horrible against at any time. Every game the Leafs can extend the series brings us closer to the real Bobrovsky.

7. Since 2020, the Leafs have been excellent at coming from behind. They did it twice aginst Columbus, once down by 3 goals with just a few minutes left in the game.

Against Montreal, they came back twice from a multi-goal deficit to force overtime. Recently, they overcame a 4-1 disadvantage to come back and beat Tampa.

They have proven conclusively they are a hard-working team that will never quit, and so I don’t see why that won’t apply to being down in a series. This team knows what’s on the line and I don’t believe they are going to just go out like lambs.

6. The Core Four is due – they had 23 shots in game 2 but could not score. They’ve really played quite well over the last several games and will surely rebound from a rough game 3.

Sure, they didn’t have the best game in game three, but every player has a cold game. Had Matthews scored when he instead ripped it off the post 20 seconds into the game, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.

5. Auston. Matthews and Mitch Marner have an intense desire to overcome their reputation for failing when the games start to count.

TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 20: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

4. Ryan O’Reilly is going to will them to victory.

3. The story of Joseph Woll leading his team back from down 3-0 is potentially one of the greatest stories in NHL history.

2. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the best team in games one and two, and they almost won game three without getting a single power-play. They are going to get a lot of power-plays as Florida chokes their lead away, and they are in prime position to take advantage.

1. After 50+ years of failing to win the Stanley Cup, 2023 is the year of the Maple Leaf. The Leafs have had a great team for years but haven’t been able to translate that into any playoff success, but they are due. I refuse to believe this team is just going to lay down and call it a season.

They are at a disadvantage, true, but they’ve got a great team, and I believe that they have a lot to prove and that they won’t quit until they are fully eliminated. A win tomorrow brings them home to Toronto where another win puts all the pressure back on Florida.

Next. The Top 10 Leafs Prospects. dark

If the Panthers, of all teams, can win six games in a row, why can’t the Toronto Maple Leafs?

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