This new mantra that the Leafs have adopted could be the ticket to playoff success
With back-to-back wins over the weekend, the Leafs set single season franchise records for points (106) and wins (50). The Leafs have been setting all kinds of team and individual records this season and it seems like every week they've set a new one.
It's quite possible that this is the best Leafs team ever assembled. This Leafs team is by far the most balanced and deep team the organization has had in years but as Kerfoot said, "it means nothing if we don't accomplish anything in the playoffs." If that comment sounds familiar, it's because Morgan Rielly said the same thing this weekend, as did Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Sensing a trend here?
It's a statement that has essentially been the mantra of Leafs Nation all season and the players know it and they've embraced it. Sure, they've had their struggles against non-playoff teams, but have done a great job in bouncing back. They've been so good in bouncing back that they haven't lost 4 in a row since the end of October and have only lost 3 in a row once and that was in mid February.
It's not just the players that are aware of the mantra being thrown around by fans this year, Keefe is well aware of it too.
-Keefe during Sunday's post game media scrum
By ramping up, Keefe is referring to the challenge he sent to the team for the final 20 games of the season - be more physical. Essentially start playing playoff hockey now so there's no need to adjust to it come game one. It's something the Leafs have had a hard time doing in the past, but they seem to be buying into Keefe's challenge and it has served them well so far.
| POLL | ||
18 AVRIL | 342 ANSWERS This new mantra that the Leafs have adopted could be the ticket to playoff success How far will the Leafs go in the postseason? | ||
| They'll lose in the first round, as is tradition | 38 | 11.1 % |
| They'll make it to round 2 | 71 | 20.8 % |
| They're going to the Conference Finals | 110 | 32.2 % |
| They'll go to the Stanley Cup Finals | 123 | 36 % |
| List of polls | ||
