Whereas everyone seems to be speaking concerning the hotly contested wild card race within the Jap Convention, as about three to 4 groups are vying for one spot, there may be one other race within the East that folks ought to be speaking about. That race is for first within the Atlantic Division between the Toronto Maple LeafsFlorida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. And the largest query is which workforce wants to complete first probably the most.
Whilst you can argue that the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning want to complete first, the apparent reply is the Toronto Maple Leafs due to their playoff failures. They’ve solely had one playoff sequence for the reason that core 4 had been collectively, and it was in 2023 towards the Lightning.
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Despite the fact that the Maple Leafs beat the Lightning in 2023 to get out of the primary spherical, led by then captain John Tavares, it is going to be robust for the Maple Leafs to beat two groups back-to-back that play comparable types to get to the Jap Convention Remaining. As TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button talked about on SportsCenter with Jay Onraithe feels the best way these groups play will exploit areas of the sport the Maple Leafs battle in.
I feel it’s critically essential, as a result of I don’t assume they match up very effectively towards both of these groups. So for those who get via the primary spherical by ending first, you’re going to must face considered one of them within the second spherical, however you don’t need to must face each of them.
And once I take a look at Tampa Bay and Florida. They forecheck and cycle the puck rather well. They get the puck into the slot space. Oh, these are defensive areas that the Toronto Maple Leafs actually battle in. They’re not superb in these areas. You’ve got expertise in Tampa Bay and Florida, and that is aware of put on you down.
And for the Toronto Maple Leafs, ending in first place avoids that within the first spherical, as a result of I feel in the event that they must face a type of two groups within the first spherical, I don’t like their probabilities to maneuver on previous the primary spherical. So ending in first place for the Toronto Maple Leafs, from my vantage level, needs to be a precedence, as a result of in the event that they don’t, I simply don’t see them getting out of the primary spherical.
Nevertheless, the Maple Leafs have a unique edge beneath head coach Craig Berube. Simply take a look at what they did not too long ago, particularly on the again finish of their California street journey. It began with getting an essential level towards the San Jose Sharks in a shootout loss. They scored two targets within the closing minute to tie the sport, and it was the massive boys led by Tavares, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, and William Nylander.
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Toronto ended the Los Angeles Kings 15-game level streak on house ice. Once more, it was the massive boys arising massive, and the goaltenders stood tall with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. After which final Sunday towards the Anaheim Geese, on the second half of a back-to-back, the Maple Leafs discovered a means with their depth to win a sport when they didn’t have their greatest.
On Wednesday night time, towards these Florida Panthers, who had been short-handed in taking part in with out Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, the Maple Leafs held on to win a house sport that groups usually lose. When a workforce has an extended street journey out West, they normally lose that first sport again. Nevertheless, the Maple Leafs discovered a method to maintain on as Stolarz, together with Matthew Knies, backstopped the workforce to victory.
That win towards the Panthers propelled the Leafs to a four-point lead over Florida, which sits in third and three factors over the Lightning, who sit in second. If the Maple Leafs are to complete first, they get their rival, the Ottawa Senators, within the Battle of Ontario. That isn’t a cakewalk due to the feelings concerned in that sequence. Nevertheless it provides them a little bit simpler path than taking part in each of the Florida groups.
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The important thing to success will likely be for the Maple Leafs to play the best means beneath Berube. However when the second season begins, they hope the success carries over as a result of that’s the reason he was employed.
It is going to be a enjoyable finish to the common season. The ultimate wild card spot and the Atlantic Division are up for grabs, with the Toronto Maple Leafs needing to win the division probably the most.
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