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Toronto Maple Leafs Should be Proud of Playoff Performance

By James Reeve

Apr 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock (C) and players salute the fans after losing the series to the Washington Capitals in game six of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Capitals beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock (C) and players salute the fans after losing the series to the Washington Capitals in game six of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Capitals beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are officially out of the playoffs, but their performances in the first round showed they deserved to be there.

Mike Babcock has seen the Toronto Maple Leafs go from being the worst team in the NHL to being one of the most exciting young teams, highlighted by their short stint in this season’s playoffs.

They may have lost the series 4-2 to the Washington Capitals, but things were far closer than many had imagined beforehand.

Every game of the series was decided by a single goal, with the Leafs pushing the Caps all the way and making life extremely hard for the President’s Trophy winners.

The best-performing team in the regular season showed flaws in their game and the young, upstart Leafs proved a handful and could have even taken the season further in many people’s eyes.

An astonishing FIVE games of the six-game series were decided in overtime – contributing to an NHL record 18 out of the 42 playoff games played this round requiring overtime.

Rookie sensation Auston Matthews also stepped up in a big way, continuing from his record-breaking and Calder Trophy-deserving regular season.

In six playoff games, Matthews earned four goals and five total points – leading the Leafs in the same manner he led them heading into the playoffs.

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Considering the Leafs and Capitals had the largest points difference in the regular season, 118 for the Caps compared to 95 for Toronto, many believed this would be a short series.

But the Leafs held on, taking a 2-1 series lead before eventually succumbing to the Capitals’ superiority.

The young Leafs will, however, learn much from this series and will head into next season with the belief they can once again make the playoffs and push even further than this campaign.

They may have lost, but their impressive determination and fight, pushing every game to be decided by a single goal, shows how proud the players of the Toronto Maple Leafs deserve to feel.

Changes will be coming this offseason, with an expansion draft and plenty of cap space being freed up due to impending free agents, but you can bet the majority of the existing Leafs team will be back and ready to take the next step next season.

Next: Leaf: Missed Opportunities On Power Play

What did you think of the Leafs’ playoff series? How do you feel the team will do next season and what news players do you think could help push the team on? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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