The Toronto Maple Leafs have won seven consecutive games and are one of the NHL’s hottest teams.
This is undeniably fantastic. The Toronto Maple Leafs underperformed in their first 50 games of the season.
They lost nine games to Arizona, Ottawa, Buffalo, Columbus, and Chicago. They suffered two 6-5 losses to Columbus. They often lost two-goal leads, and the only reason Sheldon Keefe wasn’t dismissed earlier was his penchant for spectacular comebacks best of times.
Down four goals in the first period to Tampa and ready to begin on a five-game losing streak. Not an issue. Columbus leads by five goals. Don’t worry. Have you been abandoned by your starting goalies and left for dead? Don’t worry, the washed-up Martin Jones appears from nowhere to salvage the season.
There were blown leads, incredible comebacks, and the impression that the squad, outside of the nucleus, sucked. In actuality, it wasn’t a sentiment, but rather a fact.
Then they won seven consecutive games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Cannot Be Blinded By Their Lucky Winning Streak.
The Leafs have played well. Especially against Las Vegas. However, they also defeated several lesser teams, and the Colorado game was a coin flip.
Realistically ,to win seven in a row, any team would have to be extremely lucky.
But when that happens, you truly hope the team remembers its weaknesses and controls its squad as if the first 50 games of the season were the real Leafs.
To be fair, there have been some wonderful developments lately. Simone Benoit. Max Domi. Special mention goes to Timothy Liljegren. Tyler Bertuzzi has been excellent all season and is only now beginning to find success with the puck.
This team is good, but it has the potential to be great.
Adding a third #1 centre would make a significant difference. Adding a star in any position should be a priority. The blue line is still among the worst in the league and needs at least one star, and most likely a second acquisition as well.
Two puck movers in the back end would make a significant difference.
Ryan Reaves, Noah Gregor, and Ilya Samsonov cannot be included on the playoff roster. Woll has returned, but the Leafs cannot risk their season on inconsistent goalie.
The most essential thing for Toronto Maple Leafs management to remember as the trade deadline approaches is that you are never as good as you appear at your peak. A seven-game winning run is incredibly pleasant and impressive.
