Quoting: DubasJr
If you think about all the “failures” of the past 5 years their has actually only been 2. CBJ and MTL. Caps we had no business being in that series, BOS the 1st time same thing. BOS the 2nd time I would say BOS were slight favourites going in and then became heavier favourites once the leafs only advantage (depth at centre) was taken away by yet another Kadri suspension. You can argue Anderson has to make a few more big saves but at the end of the day still were the underdogs bc of Kadri.
Now CBJ is a different story. Leafs just got goalied. Merz and Korp put up the one of the best save percentage in a series in NHL history.
MTL Campbell matches Price’s play and the best goal scorer and one of the top point getters in the league combine for 1 goal in 7 games. That is an anomaly!!! Don’t get me started how they out chance MTL 12-0 in OT and lose off a lucky deflection. That series ended up boiling down to the leafs being very unlucky. They dominated Montreal in 6 of the 7 games.
Completely agree. If the leafs just missed the playoffs Matthews’s first two years would that be better? Then it just be 3 in a row.
I think people get too caught up on 5 in a row and forget the context of it.
They should of bet Columbus but that was a weird year because of covid and I think everyone forgets the leafs we’re not very good before covid shut the season down, Florida was right on then for the last playoff spot.
If they bet Columbus Tampa would of took them out, which technically would of still been a first round exit.
It’s only last year they completely choked and couldn’t get the job done, it makes it so much worse for the fan base that it was Montreal. As much as I don’t want to deal with another off season after losing in the first round, if they play Tampa or Florida hard and lose a close series, it is what it is.
Problem is they gotta keep Matthews happy and willing to sign an extension above anything. As long as he is here, there’s a window to win. If somehow they don’t win a round this year or next, why would he sign an extension?
Unfortunately they are in a spot where they have to make progress even tho it will be their toughest matchup yet.