Maple Leafs On Brink Of Stunning Elimination From 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
When the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was their first playoff series win in 19 years. Leafs fans were excited, and rightfully so. The team was the odds-on favourite to win the Stanley Cup entering their second-round matchup against the Florida Panthers.
Fast forward a week and a half later, the Panthers have a 3-0 series lead, and the Maple Leafs are on the brink of elimination. Here’s what has led to Florida’s success in the series and what to expect in Wednesday night’s game four.
Disappointing Core Players
Toronto has a roster full of talent. Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Auston Matthews are widely considered the team’s four core players. None of them have found the back of the net through the first three games of the second round.
While Matthews recorded an assist in games one and two, he’s failed to score on his 14 shots on net and had a combined plus/minus of -2 in the last two outings.
Nylander got an assist on Erik Gustafsson’s second-period goal on Sunday night. Outside of that, the 27-year-old has failed to generate any offence, with a postseason shooting percentage of 5.3%.
Marner also picked up an assist in the series but has been on the ice for a Panthers goal in every game thus far. As for John Tavares, he has yet to find a way onto the scoring sheet.
If the Maple Leafs want any shot at a comeback in this series, these four players must step up. It doesn’t matter how talented you are on paper. When four of your highest-paid players struggle to score, it’s hard to find success on the ice.
Playing With The Lead
The Maple Leafs have had a blown lead in the last two games. In game two, Toronto got off to a hot start, scoring twice in the first six minutes of the opening period. The Panthers fought back to score three unanswered, including two in the first 1:06 of period two, eventually winning the game 3-2.
In game three, the Leafs blew two one-goal leads. Toronto again scored early, as Sam Lafferty found the back of the net in the first three minutes of period one. Florida tied it in the second, but the Leafs regained the lead roughly five minutes later. However, it was all for naught as Carter Verhaeghe scored for Florida with under eight minutes remaining in the second to tie the game at two, and Sam Reinhart netted the game-winner in overtime.
While the Panthers play with an aggressive, never-give-up attitude, Toronto has got to find a way to fight back when the going gets tough.
Looking Ahead
It’s going to be a tough climb for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Only four teams in NHL history have come back to win a series after trailing 3-0. One of those teams? The Toronto Maples Leafs in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final.
The Maple Leafs are favored in Wednesday night’s game four. The team is -125 on the money line, and the game’s over/under is at 6.5. Toronto now has the worst odds to win the cup at +2200, while the Panthers have the second-best at +350.
Don’t be surprised if one of the four core players mentioned above scores their first goal of the series. Auston Matthews has an anytime goal prop at -110, followed by John Tavares at +145.
If the Maple Leafs somehow force a game seven, and win, it’ll make for one of the most exciting playoff series in recent memory. If they lose, they’ll have gone 21 years since their last Conference Final appearance (2002 against the Carolina Hurricanes) and 56 years without lifting the Stanley Cup. It will be yet another disappointing playoff finish that leaves fans with more questions than answers.
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