Every year, the same question arises: Will the Toronto Maple Leafs finally end their playoff curse?
First, it was just a matter of making it on a consistent basis. The Auston Matthews era made that a reality. After that, it was about becoming one of the biggest powers in the Eastern Conference. Again, he conquered it.
But none of that matters if you can’t finally escape the NHL’s postseason first move, something the team has failed to do since 2004. Thanks to the divisional format, if the Leafs are to make it out of the Atlantic this year, they’ll have to beat Tampa Bay , and most likely Boston, two teams that have caused more than their fair share of misery over the past few years.
This year should be different. The Leafs are the highest-ranked team again, coming in as favorites to a Tampa team that has reached the Stanley Cup Final in the past three years, winning it twice.
Realistically, a hockey game shouldn’t be any different from the rest of the year. The stakes are much higher, but it’s still the same game. Hockey is still. But no one knows pressure like the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they’re hoping they can finally end the curse, starting with Tuesday’s victory in Game 1 at Scotiabank Arena.
“I come to the rink feeling different,” defense Mark Giordano told reporters on Tuesday. “The guys have put in a lot of good work the last few days, but nothing like walking in the morning of the first game.”
“Overall, you try to make it look like a normal game day,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “I just think our guys were like businessmen…the guys have a quiet confidence in them. They just go through their own routines.”
The core of Tampa has remained relatively the same in the past few years. Stephen Stamkos, Brayden Point and Nikita Kocherov still lead the way. Victor Heydmann is still a giant. Andrei Vasilevsky is still an elite goalkeeper. But the Leafs are going in just as deeply as they have in recent years, and they feel ready for the challenge ahead.
“It’s not a lot of difference. They still have their main pieces,” said Captain John Tavares. “They are still a tremendous hockey team with tremendous self-belief. It will be a tough test and we are excited about that.”
For some players, Game 1 means something different. This includes defenseman Luke Chien, who won two cups with the Bullets. But now he’s back with the team that drafted him fifth in 2008, but he didn’t play in the playoffs during some trying times for the team.
“Better late than never, I think,” Shane said before his first Leafs playoff game. “It’s everything you dream of. I couldn’t be more proud to be given this opportunity here, at this point in my career.”
The Leafs were the top seed all season. Tampa faltered near the end of the season, but is still the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bet on them at your own risk. But for Toronto, motivation has to be at an all-time high. They have the best of Bolts this year, that simple. The team is well organized as is, with strong depth in each position. They’re healthy too, with Matt Murray – who may have just ended up being No. 3, anyway – being the most recognizable name out of the lineup.
But none of this matters if the Leafs can’t finally get over the tangled mess they’ve gotten themselves into over the past 20 years.
The crowd will be delighted at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, with a huge crowd inside and out to be expected. Somehow, feelings feel different this year. The players are relaxed. They’ve had months to think about this particular match. Diehard fans understand the challenge and the challenges associated with it. And the players know how important it is to knock out one of the best teams we’ve seen in the era of the salary cap.
The stakes are always high. The goal is the same for all 16 teams, to win. You always want to be the winner… That’s when the real season starts, if you will.”