Toronto Maple Leafs: Most Important Game of the Season?
Each remaining game is going to be important for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Monday night’s game against the Boston Bruins could have big implications.
If the last meeting between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins proved anything, these two teams will be ready to battle, especially with a lot at stake. It is the final meeting between both teams and a chance for the Leafs to prove that they belong in the playoff discussion.
The Leafs own the second wild card spot and are three points behind the Bruins, which creates an interesting scenario. The reason is because the Leafs have a game in-hand on Boston, which could play into the Leafs’ favour with a win on Monday night.
Following Monday’s game the Bruins will play against Ottawa, Tampa Bay and the New York Islanders, while the Leafs have Columbus, New Jersey and Buffalo. The Leafs’ chances in the playoffs definitely improve if they get in with the third spot in the Atlantic instead of the second Wild Card spot.
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Much has changed since the last time the Leafs and Bruins played each other. Boston let Claude Julien go and have played much better under Bruce Cassidy going 12-4. Brad Marchand has put himself in the Hart trophy conversation, and Patrice Bergeron has found his offensive groove with 27 points in his last 21 games. Their last game was a 7-4 loss against the Edmonton Oilers, which may serve as a wake up call, something the Leafs know all too well.
After a 7-2 pummeling against the Florida Panthers the Leafs took care of business with a 5-0 win over Tampa Bay who were ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. Expect the Bruins to come back with a similar effort but unlike past season, they do not have a strong track record against the Leafs. More importantly, they have not won against the Leafs this season.
The last game between both clubs almost gave Leafs fans nightmares after blowing a 4-1 lead, but Toronto was able to come away with the win as James van Riemsdyk scored late in the third period.
The Leafs have outscored the Bruins 14-7 this season and will need their young stars to step up to the plate. William Nylander had a hat-trick in that 6-5 win over Boston. Matthews finally broke his goal scoring slump, which could not come at a better time. The Leafs will need Matthews, Nylander and Mitch Marner to lead the charge against a high-powered Bruins offence.
The Leafs are expecting Connor Carrick to be back in the lineup, which will be an added bonus for a Leafs defence that has missed his impact. The Leafs are certainly aware of what is at stake. Some have been a part of a big game against the Bruins and that memory still haunts them as Lance Hornby wrote Sunday.
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The best way for them to get over that memory is to move forward and make a new one — a better one. Monday’s game can continue this exciting season for the Leafs, the type of rebirth that Brendan Shanahan dreamed of and what Leafs fans have been waiting for.