Leafs own a surprisingly good record in the second of back-to-back games this season
The Leafs have had another strong regular season, not that anyone is focused on that. From the onset of the 2022-23 campaign, the common understanding was that the regular season doesn't matter and that the only thing that carries any weight will be what the Leafs do in the playoffs. Nevertheless, as we await the postseason, it's also important to acknowledge the growth of this team along the way.
Obviously, the Leafs have still clung onto some old bad habits, beating top teams while struggling against non-playoff teams. The Buds have suffered losses at the hands of Chicago, Arizona, Montreal, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Columbus and Detroit, among others. There are some areas, however, where the Leafs have actually excelled this year to help offset some of the points they've missed out on.
It used to be that when a team was coming up on the second half of a back-to-back, that game was essentially penciled in as a loss - especially when there was travel involved. However, the Leafs have managed to put together a winning record in games that meet that criteria. Prior to last night's win in Nashville, the Leafs were 7-3-1 in the second half of back-to-back games. Now 8-3-1 in 12 games played on the second half of a back-to-back, the Leafs have managed to collect 17 of a possible 24 points, which certainly helps offset some of what they missed out on in games they should have won against inferior opponents.
I suppose the silver-lining here is that there are no non-playoff teams in the playoffs. The Leafs can go into the postseason with one of the best records in the NHL against playoff teams and hopefully get over the hump this year, finally, without having to worry about a team like Ottawa or Buffalo playing spoiler. If they get beat, they'll get beat clean (hopefully) by a better team. If they come out on top, it will be because they're the best team and they deserved to win. There are no more excuses. Nobody can claim that Kyle Dubas didn't go all-in at the deadline. Now it's just the Leafs versus themselves. Win and they move onto round two and banish some of the demons that have followed them around for the better part of the last two decades. Lose, and it's probably going to be a fire sale in Toronto and more of the same. Their reputation as choke artists will remain intact and it will be up to someone else to help right the ship, because Kyle Dubas will likely be gone.
