Well Leafs fans – here we are. The halfway mark.
Actually that’s not true. The halfway mark would be 41 games in and the Leafs have only played 39, but they don’t play again until Friday so let’s bend the rules a bit.
This has been a truly fantastic season of Leafs games so far. Yes, they have finally rediscovered winning and goal-scoring with a younger team, but even their losses have been more interesting and entertaining than in past seasons.
What have been the Top 5 Leafs games so far this season? I did some thinking and I have my answers!
That comes tomorrow. Today, let’s go through some honourable mentions to give you an idea of how strong the competition is.
Thursday, December 15th, 2016 – Arizona Coyotes 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (Shootout)
Let’s get the easy stuff out of the way: Matthews scored against his childhood team, which was fun. Roman Polak fed Mitch Marner what might have been the prettiest pass of his career to help Marner snap a 12-game goal drought. The priceless look on Shane Doan‘s face when Frederik Andersen robbed him of his 400th goal. Radim Vrbata‘s missed OT-winner.
But this is known as “The Peter Holland Game.”
Of course Holland won the game for Arizona. Of course he did.
Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 – Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Winnipeg Jets 5 (Overtime)
Of all the losses the Leafs have suffered since Game 7 of the 2013 playoff series against Boston, this one might have stung the most. The Leafs led Winnipeg 4-0, but the Jets came all the way back to tie the game. As if it were written for Hollywood, Laine won it in OT with his first career hat-trick goal. Can you imagine being a Leafs fan in Winnipeg after that one? This gets a mention despite the sting because even if you’re a Leafs fan, you have to admit this game was pretty incredible.
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016 – New Jersey Devils 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (Shootout)
Speaking of choking on leads.
This was particularly bizarre for me personally. After the Leafs lost 2-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes the night before and Matthews’ goalless streak had reached 13 games, I made a ridiculous video praying to the “Hockey Demons.” I said that if they let Matthews score “a goal or two” against the Devils then I wouldn’t care if the Leafs lost.
What happened? Matthews scored two and the Leafs went up 3-0, but found a way to lose 5-4 in the shootout.
Again, it was another heartbreaker for Leafs fans that you have to admit was pretty ridiculous.
Let’s mix in a win, shall we?
Saturday, October 15th, 2016 – Boston Bruins 1, Toronto Maple Leafs 4
The Leafs’ home opener! I have flip-flopped on putting this in my Top 5 at least half a dozen times while writing this, but I’ve decided it didn’t quite make the cut. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved it. The pre-game ceremony where the Leafs surprised everybody by retiring all of their previously honoured jerseys, including Dave Keon’s, was amazing.
Nazem Kadri and David Backes had a decent scrap. And of course, Marner’s first career NHL goal followed by perhaps the most iconic goal celebration so far this season.
Memorable moments? Absolutely! Great game? Eh, not really. The Leafs led 3-1 after one, but only one goal was scored for the rest of the game. Milan Michalek scored it, by that way. Remember him?
This game had fun moments and was very memorable. It was also the Leafs’ return to Hockey Night in Canada. The fact this isn’t in the Top 5 shows what a fun season it has been so far.
Saturday, December 17th, 2016 – Pittsburgh Penguins 1, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (Overtime)
This is another game I thought would have made my Top 5 for sure, but the competition is just too strong.
Any victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins with a healthy Sidney Crosby is noteworthy, especially when they’re the reigning Stanley Cup champions. This one was particularly sweet because I think it may have been the Leafs’ most satisfying win of the season. I’m trying to just look at in-game action, but the context of this win matters. The Leafs had just lost 3-1 to Colorado despite shelling them, lost 3-2 to San Jose in the shootout after having a 2-0 lead, and then of course lost to Peter Holland. This wasn’t a regular three-game skid.
How did it end? With a Leafs OT winner (Marner to Jake Gardiner) on Hockey Night in Canada. Perfect.
Stay tuned for the Top 5 on Wednesday.