NHL playoffs 2017: Toronto Maple Leafs preview

The Toronto Maple Leafs make their return to the postseason for the first time since 2017, with a tough first round matchup.

Leaving it until almost the end of the regular season, the Leafs punched their ticket to the playoffs by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in their second-last game. Failing to snag a point from their last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they’ll enter as the second wildcard team in the Eastern Conference, set to play the Washington Capitals.

The Leafs haven’t been to the playoffs since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, where they lost to the Boston Bruins in an infamous game seven collapse. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2003-04. And, of course, every hockey fan loves to deride them for a Stanley Cup drought stretching back to 1967. With an exciting young core, though, the Maple Leafs are on track to put that history behind them.

Why they can win

The Leafs’ game plan relies on quick, talented rookies. The push to the playoffs has been led by the likes of 40-goal-scorer Auston Matthews, and fellow youngsters William Nylander and Mitch Marner. With such exciting skill up front, Toronto has scored 251 goals this season, good enough for fifth in the entire NHL. The core of young players seems to have endless energy, and may be less prone to playoff fatigue than some of their veteran opponents.

Complementing the rookies, the Leafs have playoff veterans like Brian Boyle (with 100 career postseason games), who’ll be able to mentor the youngsters who haven’t been here before. Roman Polak and James van Riemsdyk, too, have played over 40 playoff games. Toronto may be a young team, but they aren’t completely devoid of playoff experience. Boyle in particular was brought in to help steady the ship in the uncharted waters of playoff hockey, and will anchor the fourth line throughout the playoffs.

The Leafs have seen the Capitals three times this season, and it hasn’t gone quite as badly as you might expect against arguably the league’s best team. Toronto was severely outplayed by them earlier in April, but in fairness they’d played an emotional game in Buffalo the night before, and backup goalie Curtis McElhinney was between the pipes.

Back in November, the Leafs beat Washington 4-2, and then in January controlled most of the game, only to blow several leads and lose 6-5 in overtime. Most people are counting the young Leafs out against the battle-hardened Capitals, but Washington is notorious for poor showings in the playoffs.

Finishing last in the league a year ago, the Leafs will consider this season a success just by making the playoffs. With that in mind, they’ have nothing to lose now and therefore far less pressure than any opponent they may face. All they’re looking to do is play spoiler, and that can trap many a team.

Why they can’t win

First off, they are playing the President’s Trophy winners who have a heck of a lot to prove. The Alexander Ovechkin-led Capitals have been a scary team in the regular season, and seem to be on a mission to finally win their Cup this year. They’re an extremely potent offensive team, which could spell trouble for the Leafs defence which hasn’t been very consistent this year.

The Leafs rely more on scoring than defending, which could again be problematic against the NHL’s best teams in the playoffs. The Caps, in particular, will be a tough nut to crack, having shored up their defence by adding Kevin Shattenkirk at the trade deadline. Braden Holtby is a wall in net too, even if they can get around the blueliners. Washington was the best defensive team in the league this season, allowing just 182 goals.

Young players can struggle in the spotlight of the playoffs, which will be much brighter in a hockey-mad town like Toronto. The Leafs looked nervous last week in a playoff-like game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, perhaps giving us an indicator of how they might fare in the most meaningful games.

Having never been here before, youngsters like Matthews, Nylander, and Marner won’t be acquainted with the differences between the playoffs and the regular season. They won’t know what they can and can’t get away with as well as some of their opponents will.

X-Factor

Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been one of the most valuable players on the Maple Leafs this season, winning 33 games and posting a .918 save percentage. Goaltending can make or break a playoff run; we’ve seen many goalies (Cam Ward, anyone?) in the past carry teams all the way.

When he’s on his game, Andersen is capable of stealing a win against any team. He’s a talented goalie, but in his first year in Toronto there have understandably been a few shaky nights.

Leafs fans will be anxious to see what shape he’s in, after he was pulled midway through last Saturday’s game with an injury, and then scratched the next night. The team said that keeping him out of the last game was precautionary, and that he’ll be good to go for game one against the Caps, but it’s tough to tell if he’ll be 100 percent.

If Andersen is sharp, the Leafs have a chance. If not, they’ll have a very hard time keeping the puck out of their net.

Next: 5 reasons why the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be amazing

Prediction

The Maple Leafs have a lot of promise and a very bright future ahead of them, but this isn’t the year for a deep playoff run. They’ve drawn a very tough opponent in Washington, and matching up against them will be a good learning experience for the young players.

They shouldn’t be counted out completely, because anything can happen. The Leafs will have trouble with this first round matchup, though.