For Toronto Maple Leaf fans it has been a case of enjoying (or trying to enjoy) 16 other NHL teams playing in the first-round of the playoffs. The Leafs’ version of the 2015 Stanley Cup ended rather abruptly when we all learned that it was the Edmonton Oilers who lucked into the golden ticket in the NHL draft lottery.
Adding a little salt to the wounds is learning from Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston that the Leafs held a 4/11th chance, the highest of any NHL team, before the final ball dropped in the lottery and it was a number pattern that went the Oilers’ way.
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Some Leaf memories of past where conjured up with some of the first-round action to date.
The play of Petr Mrazek to date in the Red Wing nets, which has the Tampa Bay Lightning feeling much how the Toronto Maple Leafs felt in the 1987 playoffs. The Leafs held a seemingly insurmountable 3-1 lead over the Red Wings in their second-round playoff match as Mike Allison scored the overtime winner to have the Leafs poised for a second upset playoff victory that spring.
Enter: Glen Hanlon. Hanlon wrestled the No. 1 goaltender job from Greg Stefan, and he led the Red Wings to three consecutive victories, two by shutout. He would post a 1.87 goals-against average, the best in the playoffs of any goaltender that spring. Will Mrazek be able to also get the Wings through to the next round?
To see the Nashville Predators blow a three goal lead in their first game against Chicago was almost as unbelievable as well…say, the Toronto Maple Leafs blowing such a lead in their seventh game against the Boston Bruins two years ago.
Goaltending continues to be a dominant theme this playoff as in any playoffs.
Two years ago, the collapse in game seven raised question marks about the abilities of James Reimer (who was a significant reason the Leafs were there in the first place) and that was addressed (so we thought) by the acquisition of Jonathan Bernier that off season.
It seems like Vancouver, Ottawa and St. Louis all continue their recent playoff trends of getting “decent” goaltending, but overall being outplayed between the pipes in their respective playoff series. They would all dearly love the six years of solid playoff goaltending in Toronto that was provided by Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour.
My final Toronto observation is seeing the Toronto Raptors lose their first two games at home in their first-round NBA playoff series.
To me it drives home what I believe about playing in Toronto. The sentiment is, especially with the Leafs, that the media and public “pressure” are a negative to the MLSE owned teams and contribute to their futility.
I think the opposite.
I think it is a city starved for any kind of success and it is the unearned adulation and unconditional support that proves to be a negative. To be blunt, they get their “butts” kissed when they haven’t yet quite earned it.
I still shake my head at a playoff culture that would allow a player like Vince Carter to put a game seven in jeopardy. Carter, rather infamously, levied himself with a heavy travel schedule by attending graduation ceremonies at North Carolina just hours before Game 7 tipoff.
It was great PR, I guess, in a way, but isn’t the best PR what is accomplished on the ice and on the court?
A Raptor playoff series loss to the Washington Wizards this year would mean just ONE playoff series victory for Leafs and Raptors combined in the past 11 years. I will leave Toronto FC alone in this equation.
Now back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
