Toronto Maple Leaf must close the game to prove that it is worth it – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf
The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the lead with a 3-0 match against the Ottawa Senators, which is a reminder that the team looks different if more is needed. They looked different throughout the season and proved it time and time again, even when Auston Matthews got injured and Anthony Stolarz was injured. Now, the Maple Leafs have once again shown the hockey world that this is the best person for running, and their game to the Senators reminds it.
Related: How the Maple Leafs’ defense steals game in the playoffs
They usually lose these games in the playoffs in overtime, especially games where they lead late but fail to close the door. This time, they are looking for ways to win with a 3-2 overtime victory in Games 2 and 3. The explosion lead in the third stage is worrying, but most notably their ability to complete the job, hoping to win the second round of the competition on Saturday (and they hope it is their first Stanley Cup title since 1967).
Maple Leaf raises a gap in overtime
Hockey is full of backhand compliments. For example, “This team has a huge penalty kill.” Similarly, it applies to the ability to recover after blowing lead. Of course, the win is great, but the only reason for recovery is because they boast about the lead first.
However, this is where the Maple Leafs lead 2-1 in the third phase of Game 2, with only 8:38 left in the lead of 2-1 and only 8:38 left in order to win a 3-2 championship. This time, given the team’s history, it’s even more noteworthy that their recent playoff history and the subsequent collapse are a bigger deal. They were late to play and collapsed overtime, having a chance to end the series and work hard to do that, including a 3-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens in 2021. The Maple Leafs won these games. When the pressure increases, they have delivered.
They don’t ask how, they ask how much, the only thing that matters is how many victories the Maple Leaf wins and how many victories the Senator has. Again, they won’t score like someone does, which is the correct score for the last two games, where the depth skaters find the back of the net. The skaters scored in overtime and the stars were leading, making this team especially a special team.
Maple Leaf Star Power Leader
Since the “Core Four” is assembled, they are known for disappearing when maple leaves need them the most. First of all, they are the leading ones. Matthews and Mitch Marner had two goals and nine assists, including a third-inning goal, and Marner hit Matthews from a great centered pass from the back of the network. John Tavares and William Nylander added three goals and five assists to the top six. Add everything, four forwards scored four of 12 goals and recorded 14 of the team’s 20 assists.
Their offense stands out, but it’s not just the offense that has an impact. Four forwards strengthened on both ends of the ice and played a great defense to build the offense. Matthews and Marner are always known for their excellent defensive talents. After all, they are the 2023 and 2024 Selke Trophy finalists (Matthews became a finalist, which was a surprise for many, but not those who followed him closely). However, they kicked things into another gear in the playoffs.
Game 3 overtime goal reflects how the star player plays a complete 200-foot game. Matthews won the standoff, the puck was sent back to the spot, and the open-air appearance led to the dagger. Winning the standoff is an often overlooked attribute in the NHL, not Matthews, who helped the Maple Leafs win their 32nd draw (the Senators won only 19 games) and games.
When needed, the depth is also tightening.
The third overtime goal is an example of the deep skater helping Maple Leaf control the series. The Maple Leafs didn’t ask Simon Benoit to be a scorer all season as the Chinese defender scored one goal in 78 regular season games. He defended on the ice, and the puck was still open to reveal his goals and then buried him.
Benoit is a 26-year-old defensive player who strides forward, reflecting the entire defense. There are no star players, but they have multiple great players to make the unit a complete player. Chris Tanev leads with his defensive zone instinct and ability to eat hockey, while Jake McCabe is the main force, with an average ice time in this series of 21:51. Since then, he has been thrown into Morgan Rielly’s game, and the Maple Leafs’ defense can block opponents and score goals for the playoffs.
Benoit is also one of many deep skateboarders to date to strengthen in this series. Max Domi performed well in Game 2 as his shots gave the Maple Leafs an overtime win. Matthew Knies had two goals, and at the age of 22, he was a young forward who continued to add spark to the offense.
Because this is a maple leaf, no one will trust them until they finish the work. They can lead 4-0 in Game 4, and everyone will wonder how the Senators find the back of the network several times to make fans sweat. So far, the team looks like someone who can make a deal. This may not be great because they can win the lead in the third stage, but they will get the result.
The third stage of struggle will come back to bother them
The way things are shaped, Maple Leaf will face the Florida Panthers who led 2-0 in the second round. The Panthers are not only the team that beat the Maple Leafs in the second round of 2023, but also make the appearance in the Stanley Cup final of the back-to-back season and are the defending champions. The Eastern Conference has been through them all the time.
The Senators are a great team and, besides the first game, they played well against the Maple Leafs. They will be a force for the Eastern Conference in the future, and a young group will only get better. The problem is that the senators are still a young team, which shows.
They have fought back in the last two games to force overtime but failed to complete their comeback. Brady Tkachuk had a clutch goal in Game 3 but he didn’t take over the series. Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers is the type of player who can take over the series, while Panthers skaters are full of troubles with the big stages, creating no problem during overtime or later in the field.
The Maple Leafs are doing what they should do in the first round: Take care of the business with a less-than-many team. That said, they still have to end the game and all the Cup champion teams are doing well. Even those who attack high-altitude offenses like the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 can play excellent defenses when needed. The Maple Leafs hired Craig Berube, the head coach of playoff hockey, to have to close the door when the Maple Leafs’ lead is late.
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