Toronto Maple Leafs, Stanley Cup Playoffs
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While the Toronto Maple Leafs saw their season come to another disappointing end, it opened an opportunity for a superstar name to represent his home country. F
Max Pacioretty had no answer when asked whether he'd like to play in the NHL for another season. It was a strenuous year for the 36-year-old forward. He dealt with injuries throughout the year, the most recent being in February, which kept him out of the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup until Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators.
The Maple Leafs (52-26-4) finished first in the Atlantic Division with 108 points, six ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning and eight of the Panthers. Toronto then won only its second postseason series in 21 years by eliminating the Ottawa Senators in six games in the first round.
Former NHL player Rile Cote explains why he thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to fall short in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
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When I say Toronto didn't stand a chance, I don't mean against Florida. Ordinarily, those Maple Leafs could absolutely beat the Panthers. Instead, what Toronto didn't stand a chance against was history. The Leafs were always going to blow this game. There was waaaaaay too much stink involved all around for Toronto to get it done.
Indeed, the Maple Leafs came into this contest having lost six consecutive Game 7s, including five with Matthews, Marner, forward William Nylander and defenseman Morgan Rielly in the lineup. This was their chance to finally change the narrative.
Marner seemed OK with all of that in the early days of his Leafs career. He earned rave reviews from the Boston Bruins after his second playoff series in 2018, when he shined with nine points in a seven-game loss. He piled up 94 points, the most by a Leaf in more than 20 years, as a 21-year-old a season later.
Maple Leafs have been projected to win it all under Brendan Shanahan, but can't even get out of 2nd round. Again. That doesn't help Red Wings fans.
Major changes seem to be on the way for the Maple Leafs franchise as it continues to fall flat when it matters most.