SAME RESULT, DIFFERENT FEELING

Jared Rotenberg

So, here we are again Leafs fans. The Toronto Maple Leafs were once again eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This time facing their demise in a 7-game nail-biter against the reigning back to back champions; the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The result of course, is the same as it has been ever since this core first cracked a playoff spot back in 2017, which if you’re counting with me at home, is the Leafs 6th straight first-round exit (this without mentioning the Leafs failure to exceed the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2004; 18 years ago). However, despite the outcome being the same, I can’t help but to feel differently about this most recent post-season defeat. And here’s why:

For starters, in previous years, the Leafs have quite simply been out-worked and shut down, despite the immense skill and talent that this team very clearly has. For example, last season the Leafs were seemingly giftwrapped a matchup with fringe-playoff team and a long-time bitter rival in the Montreal Canadiens.

Within this series, the Maple Leafs blatantly played down to their opponent, utilizing lazy play and minimal attention to detail as they let a commanding 3-1 series lead slip through their hands in a heartbreaking 7-game collapse. All throughout last year's series, the star players, primarily Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, were shut down, and failed to provide the Leafs with much needed offense; especially in the key games with elimination on the line. The offensive weapons on the Leafs being shut down and not playing to the best of their ability made for a frustrating, devastating, and utterly embarrassing watching experience from a Leafs fans perspective.

However, fast forward to this year, despite the result being the same, the story for the Leafs is incredibly different. In this latest playoff appearance, our opponent was significantly stronger and more proven than any of the other teams we have previously faced and been defeated by, as we went head to head with the the back to back Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And you know what, we put up a pretty damn good fight. On the other end of the ice stood a formittible, and deeply experienced foe with no true weaknesses, and despite this challenge, the big boys showed up where they had previously failed, and provided much needed offense. When looking at Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in particular, this time around, they did what they failed to do last season and carried the bulk of our offensive load throughout this series.

Despite a much harder opponent and more difficult matchups standing in their way, the Leafs two shining stars were first and second place in Leafs playoff scoring, respectively. Matthews led the charge with 4 goals and 9 points in the 7 game series, while Marner was not far behind with 2 goals and 8 points in the same number of games. The performances of the Leafs big boys is one of the key differences between this year’s playoffs, and the losses of the past.

Aside from the two superstars, we also got significant production from many others within our lineup, highlighted by point per game winger William Nylander, captain John Tavares, defenseman Morgan Rielly, amongst others.

Despite those mentioned being the players steering the ship in terms of our offensive production, we also got imperfect, yet, solid production from the depth pieces within our lineup. Would you ideally like more from the bottom 6? Of course! And there is a valid argument that depth scoring was one of the factors that ultimately resulted in the Leafs elimination in this very close series.

However, it is hard to be too critical of any member of this Leafs roster in terms of their play, despite the fact that they were bounced in round 1 once again. On top of this, we got generally strong defensive play, and, at the very least, a solid series from goaltender Jack Campbell, who kept the Leafs in many tight games and routinely made big saves to rival the play of 6’3” monster Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Despite how strongly we played throughout this series, of course, at the end of the day, the result is the same. We lost. Again. We played a strong series, and regardless, we were still forced to sit through another tear-filled handshake line, and watch our season come to an end right before our very eyes.

It’s a frustrating, devastating result, and if anyone tells you that you have no reason to be mad, they are quite simply wrong. We didn’t win, and simply put, that sucks. However, despite the very real and valid emotions associated with this most recent playoff loss, it must be stated that this playoff loss is not the same as the ones of the past.

We got production from the stars, found ways to steal games from a phenomenal opponent, and even took key series leads at several points throughout this 7 game chess match. Unfortunately though, despite how well we played, a game 6 overtime loss, and a one goal score differential in game 7 ended up being the difference maker as the reigning champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, squeaked out a hardfought series win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This time around, there isn’t much I could say or wish we should’ve done differently, unfortunately. Almost everything you would hope for from the Leafs throughout this series ultimately came to fruition. But at the end of the day, it is the result that matters.

We were getting offensive production, displaying immense physicality, playing relatively smart hockey, and were getting much needed saves to keep us in games at key points throughout the series. But at the end of the day, it just wasn’t enough. It is the most frustrating result of all, as this series was as close as you’ll ever see, with the Lightning winning by a single goal.

However with that comes a sad, yet strange feeling as well. A new feeling that this core has never quite given me in my many years as a Leafs fan. They played a truly great series, and despite the devastating emotions that washed over me after the final buzzer of game 7, I am still, shamefully so, proud of their fight and effort. The result sucks, but the play from the Leafs was strong and dangerous. Unfortunately, however, so was the team we faced.

With this loss, the immediate thought is to look towards the future and ask ourselves the question of “what now?”. This is a question that will be asked heavily in the next few days, and one that will be answered very soon from management, the media, and Leafs fans alike, including myself.

However, for now, I believe it is okay to sit with this one for a bit. This loss sucks. Especially because we came so close and truly displayed signs that this year was in fact different. Of course we lost once again, but credit where credit is due, we played one hell of a series, and unlike the losses of the past, we looked damn good in the process and showed that when we play with effort we have the talent and skill to give any team in this league a run for their money.