The Leafs will beat Tampa this year, and here's why
Oh man, I was really hoping to not have to do this again. Nearly two decades of this pain and here I am again, becoming a believer. I believe in the Toronto Maple Leafs. I've allowed this team to work its way back into my heart and suddenly we're on the eve of the playoffs. It really snuck up on me this year. For better or for worse, that special time of year is upon us again. This time, I think they'll actually do it.
Yes yes, I've heard all the stats. Six straight first round exits, no series wins since 2004, no cup since 67, it was 4-1, it was 3-1, Game 7, Game 7, Game freaking 7, zamboni driver. I know, this team has caused me emotional pain like I never knew a sports team ever could. I've been here since the days of Mats Sundin, Curtis Joseph, Darcy Tucker and Gary Roberts. I still distinctly remember Joe Nieuwendyk's 2 goals that took the Leafs past the Sens in '04. Nearly thirty years of Leafs fandom, you'd think I would have learned by now.
Yet here I am. Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, believing. I can't tell you why. I know the team is good - very good - but they've been good before. There's something different this year. It's not that they win games, it's how they win games. They're not offensive juggernauts playing firewagon hockey anymore. Their D corps isn't filled with stick checking, puck moving defensemen anymore. Their goaltending isn't hanging on by a thread anymore either. Goalies are actually out there stealing games. This is a team that creates offence off of a grinding cycle. A defense that will protect their goalie and punish anyone who enters the net front. Maybe most importantly, it's a bottom six forward group with an identity, who skate hard, hit hard and makes life miserable for whatever poor saps the opposition throws out against them.
This may not be the best Leafs team we've seen in the Matthews and Marner era from a pure skill perspective. It is, however, the most playoff ready. The Leafs suddenly have some bite to them. Watching the Leafs' overtime loss to the Bruins, it dawned on me. The Leafs weren't just standing up to the big bad Boston Bruins, on many plays, they were the aggressors. The team seemed to relish the opportunity to test themselves against the best regular season team of the salary cap era, and they were oh so close to earning themselves a well deserved win. Then, on the second half of a back-to-back against a rested Tampa team, they took the fight to the Bolts, literally - physically dominating their Atlantic Division rivals en route to a 4-3 victory.
I don't need reminding that they lost the Bruins game, or that they failed to hold onto a 1-goal lead in the third. I know. What I'm talking about is the way they played the Bruins and Lightning. I came away from those games knowing that this team is ready. You know what? I'm ready too.
There are no easy paths to the Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay has been to three straight Finals. Even with the injuries they have right now, they will be extremely tough to beat. Last season, it took a phantom 5-on-3 in Game 6 and a brutal disallowed goal in game 7 for them to take the Leafs out. This year. I think the Leafs finally turn the tables. They're tougher, they're better defensively, they're deeper at every position, and they're playing well. What I'm really excited for though, is to see what this team looks like after they FINALLY get the monkey off their backs. Once you get past the first round, the sky is truly the limit.
So boys, it's time, do it. Do it for the fans, do it for the city, do it for Joe Bowen, do it for Börje Salming, and most importantly, do it for you. It's time to change the narrative. I believe. Do you?
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 18 | 462 ANSWERS The Leafs will beat Tampa this year, and here's why How many games will the Leafs and Lightning series go? | ||
| 4 | 29 | 6.3 % |
| 5 | 100 | 21.6 % |
| 6 | 221 | 47.8 % |
| 7 | 112 | 24.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
