The Toronto Maple Leafs need a dominant victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
After clinching a playoff spot on Wednesday night, it would be easy for the Toronto Maple Leafs to look past the Blue Jackets, as this is the definition of a trap game. Toronto is playing at a non-playoff team in Columbus at home with two full days off before heading to Florida for back-to-back games against the Panthers and Lightning.
It would be easy for the Leafs to play down to their opponent and lose this game at home, but they need to stay focused and not get ahead of themselves. For whatever reason, the Blue Jackets have been the team’s biggest foe all season, outscoring the Leafs 11-3 in two match-up’s.
Dennis Hildeby was the goaltender for both games, so that may be the reason as to why it was so lopsided but that can’t be the main excuse. As such, the Leafs cannot afford to lose the season series 3-0 and they need to play thier best. The Blue Jackets are fighting for a playoff spot right now and are only four points out of the second Wild Card with a game in-hand, so you know they’re going to come prepared.
On paper, the Leafs are a far more superior team, but that desperation could be the difference-maker on Saturday night. Fortunately for Toronto, they are still in a battle for first-place and as a veteran team, they should understand how important Saturday night’s game is. If they can beat the Blue Jackets, and then win both games against the Panthers and Lightning, that would put them at 102 points with only four games left.
Toronto Maple Leafs need a win against the Blue Jackets
Three wins in a row would virtually lock up the Atlantic Division for the Leafs, securing their first division win since 2000. It’s crazy to think that the Leafs have 13 Stanley Cup championship’s but only have six divisional wins, so this would be a big accomplisment for the team.
If the Leafs are the same-old team, they will lose on Saturday night and make it extremely difficult on themselves heading into the Florida swing. However, if they are a different squad and one that will do damage in the playoffs, they will not only win this game, but they will win it handidly. I’d love to see a 4-1 win, instead of a 6-5 barnburner because this team is supposed to be built different.
With three straight games allowing two or less goals, that style of hockey will be the key to victory in the playoffs for the Leafs and it’s what we should want to see on Saturday night. Anthony Stolarz has probably locked up the starting goaltender position for the playoffs, but he’ll need to continue to prove that he’s ready, as he has zero career playoffs starts in his career.
My predictions are usually very wrong when it comes to individual Leafs games, but as I’ve said before, I think this team is different. As a result, I’m expecting a huge win at home on Saturday night and think their big boy’s are going to show up again. Give me a two-goal game by Auston Matthews and a 5-2 victory by the Leafs.
Let’s build some momentum as we head to the Florida swing and keep winning, so we can get the Battle of Ontario for Round 1 of the playoffs.
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