Well, that did not go as planned. Last night, the city of Toronto was gleaming with optimism—finally, a chance to win a series in five games and get the much-needed rest required to succeed in the next round. Instead, everything went wrong in the worst way possible.
Let’s get this out of the way: if you thought this series was going to be easy, it’s time to start taking playoff hockey at face value. It’s difficult, and as a fan, you rarely get the best possible result. That being said, all Leafs Nation was hoping for was for this team to meet expectations. So far, the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t done that.
There are 32 teams in the NHL, and if 31 of them were up 3–2 in a playoff series, their fans would feel very comfortable heading into Game 6. Unfortunately, a horrible playoff record over the past decade has made it incredibly hard for Leafs fans not only to have confidence in their team but to even enjoy watching them play. The fact that fans paid hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to watch their team get shut out and embarrassed at home is unfathomable. It’s incomprehensible that fans stood in the pouring rain outside Scotiabank Arena, only to witness a spineless performance from a Maple Leafs team that wasn’t up for the occasion. If there were any doubts about whether they could win this series in Game 5, they’ve now become crippling anxieties about losing in seven.
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: the Toronto Maple Leafs are 1–13 in close-out games. Somehow, it gets worse. The stats from the core players—those they pay to perform in these moments—are staggering:
Mitchell Marner: 14 GP, 5 PTS
Auston Matthews: 14 GP, 9 PTS
William Nylander: 14 GP, 11 PTS
For years, Leafs Nation has waited for this team to be “playoff ready”. Season after season, it’s supposed to be their year, and time and time again, they fall short.
Two games ago, we weren’t having this conversation. The core four were scoring, the power play was producing, and it seemed there was no doubt the series would be wrapped up quickly. Now, you’d struggle to find a Leafs fan who doesn’t think they’re headed for a series loss.
There have been many disappointing performances from the core four over the years, but last night was an all-time low. Auston Matthews was abysmal—not only did he fail to bury chances he usually converts, but he made mistakes that directly benefited the Senators. As for Marner, he disappeared yet again in a close-out game. Some say he ghosted—I’d argue even ghosts have a spiritual presence. Marner was completely absent. Regarding Nylander, he’s either the smartest, coolest guy on the ice, or the complete opposite. Last night, it was the latter. He wasn’t “Willy Styles,” the suave Swede who produces magic—he was just “Plain Old Will.”
Heading into Game 6, the mood surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fanbase is dismal. Game 5 was their chance to shift the narrative and prove that, under Craig Berube, things are different. On paper, they’re up 3–2 in the series, they have a roster capable of wearing down the Senators, and they remain the favourite to win in six. But in the grey area—where the Maple Leafs always seem to reside—all signs point to a Game 6 loss and a soul-crushing Game 7 defeat at home. This may sound bleak and overly negative, but it’s an opinion rooted in lived experience. Mentally, many fans have already accepted their team’s fate. For the players, it’s hard to believe they’re heading to Ottawa with any real confidence.
So, how can they turn this around?
First, despite the panic, the odds are in the Leafs’ favour. Only four teams in NHL history have come back from an 0–3 series deficit. It’s an incredibly difficult feat—one the Senators are unlikely to pull off.
Second, the entire Maple Leafs roster needs to collectively take a deep breath. Last year, the Panthers still won the Stanley Cup after nearly blowing a 3–0 lead in the final. While this isn’t a model to follow, it’s a reminder that control of a series doesn’t vanish unless you let it.
Lastly, Craig Berube needs to get the lineup right. That means Bobby McMann on the second line, Scott Laughton on the third, and David Kämpf centering the fourth. As much as we love the idea of Max Pacioretty, it’s not 2014 anymore. The second line functioned best with McMann on the wing—he’s a far better scoring threat than Pontus Holmberg. And while Laughton has been a force in this series, imagine his impact with a stronger supporting cast. Berube understands team dynamics and the fluctuations inherent in a playoff run. Hopefully, he’ll implement these changes.
If they lose this series, what lies ahead for the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a doomsday scenario. The chances of re-signing unrestricted free agents like Marner and Tavares will be slim, and a full teardown of the roster would likely follow. Deservedly so, the media and fans will be relentless, and the playoff curse will live on.
For now, let’s avoid that terrifying possibility and focus on winning the next game—because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s this: This series cannot go to Game 7.
