John Tavares and the Leafs have a chance to do something special against his former team on Sunday
The Leafs continue to rack up points in the standings with a massive come from behind OT win against the Ottawa Senators in the Battle of Ontario on Saturday night, also tying a franchise record for single season wins with 49 on the season. The Buds will look to break that record tonight, along with another.
During the 2017-18 season, the Leafs amassed an incredible 105 points to set a new franchise record in that category under then head coach Mike Babcock. On Sunday against the New York Islanders, the Leafs have a chance to break that record with a win. The Leafs currently sit at 104 points with 7 games remaining, so it appears likely that they'll set a new single season points record under Babcock's successor, Sheldon Keefe.
The Leafs can not only set a new franchise points and wins record tonight at Scotiabank Arena, but they'll also have a chance to eliminate the New York Islanders from playoff contention. Though it was always unlikely that the Isles would surpass the Washington Capitals, there is still a very, very slim chance.
It would be poetic justice for John Tavares and the Leafs are the ones who knock off the Isles and end their hopes of sneaking into the playoffs in the final few games of the season, especially given the Isles fans' treatment of their former captain. Chants of "we don't need you", "John, you suck!" and things of that nature face Tavares every single time he returns to Long Island. It's almost as though the fanbase was not at all grateful or the 9 years Tavares game them, while the management group surrounded him with nobody to play with.
Personally, I'd love to see Tavares come out and have a big game, register a couple of points and send his former team packing. I've heard so much smack talk from Isles fans over the past few seasons, when the Isles enjoyed deep runs while the Leafs were bounced early time and time again.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 17 | 317 ANSWERS John Tavares and the Leafs have a chance to do something special against his former team on Sunday If you were Kyle Dubas and you had a chance to go back in time, would you have signed John Tavares in free agency? | ||
| Yes | 200 | 63.1 % |
| No | 117 | 36.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
