Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs roll into the ditch with hope to crush lowly Sabres
April 3, 2017, 10:41 AM ET [230 Comments]
Lucas Neilson
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It was only a season ago when the Maple Leafs were in the gutter with the Buffalo Sabres. Both teams have been struggling for years and have worked hard at rebuilding over the last couple of seasons. Last year it looked as if the Sabres were a year or two ahead in the rebuilding process and the Leafs were going to have to suffer for another season or two before we saw results.

Well well well, isn’t it rich how all that trash-talking from Sabres fans really ended up biting them in the ass just one season later.

Without a doubt the Sabres have some excellent pieces going forward. Ristolainen, Reinhart, Eichel, Okposo and O’Reilly are all gamers. They will be icing Alexander Nylander in tonight’s game against Toronto and against his brother William Nylander who has been a phenom for the Leafs this season registering a whopping 59 points with five games left on the season to try and hit the 60 points plateau.

It was 2014 when the Leafs drafted Nylander at 8th overall, which was the same year the Sabres drafted Reinhart at number two overall. It was 2015 when Toronto stole Marner at number four overall, that being the same year that Buffalo took Eichel second overall.

The addition of Auston Matthews to the Maple Leafs roster is where everything changed. A number of pieces of the puzzle were cut out and being formed for glory. The Leafs offense is a juggernaut and the majority of these kids are around 20 years of age. It’s the beginning of a new era for the Leafs and their fans, the dark days are behind us and Babcock and his elite coaching tactics are bringing us to the promise land. Playoffs are in reach…and goosebumps will follow.

Just five games to go Leafs Nation, we’re almost there!

The Leafs have won three in a row and plan to make it four after venturing to Buffalo tonight. The Sabres have lost two in a row but we all know they are good against Toronto when playing in Buffalo.

It’s back to back games for Toronto as they host the Washington Capitals tomorrow. I will be attending tomorrow’s game so I should have a solid write-up on Wednesday from the birds eye view.

As of now the Leafs are sitting pretty in the third slot of the Atlantic Division. The Bruins are ahead by a point, but have also played two more games than the Leafs. The Senators are simply blowing it as the season is winding down; they have lost two in a row and are 2-5-3 in their last ten games. It’s huge the Leafs making the playoffs, I think we can all agree on that. But with the chance of finishing in a top three spot in the Atlantic means no Washington in round one. That’s where we want the boys to end up as the Capitals are not only sitting first in the Eastern Conference with 112 points, but they are 8-1-1 in their last ten games and if we can avoid playing them, I think we have a better shot of making it through round one.

The Leafs have been winning more often than not all season, but have really poured it on as of late. A win tonight would be huge considering their last four games are all versus excellent teams. Buffalo stinks, we really need to grind this one out tonight and come out with a huge two points, which of course would make life easier as the Buds try to hold on.

Toronto’s record at home this season is 20-10-7 and their record on the road is 18-14-8. This is why finishing second in their Division would be so big come playoff time. The extra game at home, starting the series at home and of course the fans of Leafs Nation will erupt and Leafs Square will be absolute mayhem.

This is what we have been waiting for all season.

Five games left…

Go Leafs Go!

Thanks for reading.