While everyone is celebrating Jason Spezza after Game 5 win, Spezza reveals who the real Game 5 hero is
Have you begun to come back down from the high of last night's thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Bolts in Game 5? No? Me either! The Leafs now hold a 3-2 series lead over the defending champs with two chances to snap an 18-year drought and win a series for the first time since 2004.
While the big story of the night was the leadership of veteran forward Jason Spezza, who stepped up to settle down Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell during a TV timeout in the first period and then stepped up again during the first intermission to help wake up the Leafs and spark the comeback, the ever-humble Spezza redirected the praise to who he felt the real MVP of the game was.
During an interview on Wednesday, Spezza said that the Leafs simply do not come away with the 3-2 series lead in Game 5 if it wasn't for Jack Campbell making some key saves to play spoiler to the Bolts.
Campbell faced 35 shots on Tuesday, plenty of which were dangerous, making 32 stops and posting a .914 SV% to give his team the best chance possible to win. Simply put, if Soupy doesn't make saves on plays like these, the Leafs lose Game 5:
Spezza's experience and leadership are a real asset to the team, and while he doesn't play a lot of minutes (just 5:50 against the Lightning in Game 5), the intangibles that he brings to the table in the locker room and on the bench are quite obviously important. Above all else, his humility and willingness to operate without an ego despite having been a premier player in the NHL for a long time has really benefitted the Leafs.
| POLL | ||
11 MAI | 1312 ANSWERS While everyone is celebrating Jason Spezza after Game 5 win, Spezza reveals who the real Game 5 hero is Who is your Game 5 hero? | ||
| Spezza | 473 | 36.1 % |
| Matthews | 200 | 15.2 % |
| Campbell | 565 | 43.1 % |
| Other | 74 | 5.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
