Leafs on pace to break last year's franchise record season
Last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs played their best season in franchise history, posting a franchise high 54 wins and 115 points over 82 games. Aside from the team's overall performance, we also saw a historic season from Auston Matthews, who won the Rocket Richard Trophy for a second straight season and the Hart Trophy as well as the Ted Lindsay Award as the league's MVP. Beyond that, there were several Leafs who had career high seasons.
Unfortunately, we all know how last season ended. Yet another first round disappointment, this time at the hands of the then reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions. The Leafs' 115 points last season might have been enough to win the Atlantic Division in a lot of other seasons. As fate would have it, Florida put up 122 points and the Leafs drew the Tampa Bay Lightning in round 1 as a result.
Well, the Leafs appear intent on not leaving anything to chance this season. Not only are they just 3 points back of the Boston Bruins for the Atlantic Division lead, they're also currently 3rd overall in the league standings, behind only Boston and New Jersey. In addition, they're actually on pace to break last season's 115-point franchise record. The Buds are on pace for 117 points this season and appear to be a much more complete team. Their improved defensive play and vastly superior goaltending this season have given the Leafs a really good chance to not only set a new franchise record, but also to break the curse and end the team's 1st round slump and, hopefully, their lengthy Stanley Cup drought.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 132 ANSWERS Leafs on pace to break last year's franchise record season Will the Leafs break last year's 115-point record? | ||
| Yes | 81 | 61.4 % |
| No | 51 | 38.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
