Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs play the hero card; from zero to hero
March 17, 2017, 10:02 AM ET [109 Comments]
Lucas Neilson
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It’s a great day for Leafs Nation today. The Leafs came out the gates on Tuesday looking like they had just spent the last twenty four hours partying and had jelly legs and the drive of a 1984 Ford Topaz. Nothing was going right on Tuesday, nothing at all.

Obviously Babcock lit a fire under their shorts before Thursday’s game!

The Leafs came out the gates flying last night, but so did the Lightning. Both teams had a number of scoring chances in the first period but it was Andersen who shut the door and let the Maple Leafs offense do their job. Big Roman Polak got the Leafs on the board with a blast from the point that trickled in behind Vasilevskiy. It looked as if James van Riemsdyk had finished the play off with a little touch, but after review you could see that it was Polak’s blast that made its way into the net.

A huge goal it was as the Leafs are a much better team (as most teams are) when they score the first goal.

A determined and electric Leafs team really stuck it to the Lightning in the second period. Another goal from a defenseman as Morgan Rielly scored another goal (he’s heating up lately). Then just 15 seconds later Matt Martin got his fifth of the season and just like that the Leafs were back on track with a substantial lead. Of course I was still somewhat worried since we know how things have gone in the past this season with a comfortable lead. But the Leafs weren’t done yet; they chased Vasilevskiy after Connor Brown scored his sixteenth of the season when the Leafs capitalized on the power play. JVR finished off the second period domination with his twenty-second goal of the season and boom, the Leafs electrify the Lightning and scoop up an enormous two points.

That’s the type of answer us fans were hoping for, complete redemption after that pathetic display of hockey that we saw on Tuesday night against the Panthers.

The best part of that win was every other team we are in the race with ended up losing.

Tampa Bay, Boston and the Islanders are took a loss and the Leafs are back in the wild card spot and just four points back of the Bruins with a couple games in hand. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be happy with any matchup round one, I think we have just as good a shot beating the Capitals or Blue Jackets as we do the Canadiens or Senators. That’s just this Leafs team; they are fast, offensive and can shred any team on the scoreboard on any given night. The only real worry is the defensive core and Andersen being able to stop a handful of high end scoring chances each period.

The Maple Leafs will certainly have their work cut out for them when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Chicago has been on a tear as of late, winning eight of their last ten games and their last three games in a row. It will be a big two points for each team as Chicago is currently leading the Western Conference and the Leafs as we know are in deep combat for that final wild card spot and or the third spot in the Atlantic Division.

We all know who needs to be smothered in Saturday’s matchup as we’ve seen the Hawks dominating year after year. Kane, Toews and Panarin are the key players to take out of the game but the Leafs will have to keep an eye on former Leaf Richard Panik and young guns Hartman and Schultz who have been riding hot/cold waves all season.

One thing is certain, if the Leafs can play a full 60 minutes like they did last night I feel they could matchup against any team in the league. Goaltneding was excellent, the forecheck was strong and they had scoring spread out throughout the lineup.

It would be nice if Matthews could just bang one in to get this slump over with as we need him now more than ever. He’s been playing well and standing out, but the puck just isn’t finding the back of the net right now. Nothing to stress over, but certainly a goal will open up a window where he will get on a roll; seems that how our boy Auston rolls.

Prepare for a big one, get your lucky Leafs gear on and do whatever ritual that you need to do for the Leafs to squeeze out a vital two points on Saturday.

Thanks for reading, have yourself a great weekend and let’s hope the boys can get the job done!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!