William Nylander (Gerry Angus, Getty Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs prevailed in arguably their most important game of the last decade.
Here are my 5 takeaways from a Leafs' comeback victory that had my heart absolutely racing.
1. I Have Fallen Victim to the Passion™️
Typically I'm a pretty shy and reserved guy. Even in the Leafs' 5-0 victory in Game 1, my excitement was limited to a couple of yells and fist pumps. However, since then I've been struck by a little thing called the Passion™️. After Auston Matthews buried a rebound goal to put Toronto in the lead, I shamelessly ran around the house, shouting.
This is the most optimistic Leafs Nation has been in my lifetime. Though this series is far from over (remember that the Leafs blew a 3-1 lead against a vastly inferior Montreal Canadiens team last year), Leafs fans suddenly seem to think that they have a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup. Despite my pessimistic attitude to this sports team, I must admit I am now one of them. The Passion™️ has overcome me. Toronto are now a game away from the most successful playoff run of my life. I don't know if that's depressing or exciting, but it has made me a happy guy.
When Tampa Bay went up 2-0 early, I was resigned that Toronto was doomed for failure again. My superstitious attitude had failed. I wasn't wearing my jersey, because the Leafs had lost both games when I wore it. I tried to avoid watching the majority of the game by myself, since they seem to do better when I'm on my own. I even made myself a bowl of soup just to spur on a good performance from Jack Campbell. But that early deficit had me in a terrible mood.
But when you least expect it, you are struck by the Passion™️. The Leafs had a very good second period to get back within 1 goal. The crowd clearly had the Passion™️. The Maple Leafs fans were legitimately one of the biggest reasons for Toronto's comeback. Their reaction to some missed calls led the referees to assess penalties very late in the play. They spurred on their team to never give up, even in the face of adversity. Though I couldn't be there tonight, I definitely was one of those wild fans that was wishing with all my heart for a Toronto victory.
I don't know why the Passion™️ has gotten to me. I'm usually cold and calculated in my thinking and analysis. If I didn't have a blog where half the posts are reporting on Leafs games, it's possible that somebody may not even know I was a fan. But maybe the takeaways have convinced me to be more heartfelt when watching this team. All I know is that I'm going to be heartbroken when Toronto loses if the Leafs continue to get momentum in this postseason.
2. The Stars Show Up in Big Moments
I'm not speaking hyperbole when I say that some of those players were fighting for their careers in Toronto. But in the face of pressure, the Leafs' stars did something unexpected: they showed up. After years of the star players collapsing in the biggest moments, the team's most talented players found a way to make a difference in the game. Auston Matthews scored the winning goal, Morgan Rielly scored a tying goal, Mitch Marner had a crucial assist, William Nylander had three points, John Tavares had a goal and an assist, while Jack Campbell made some huge saves in the last period of play.
If Tampa Bay won, there would have been a major calling for people's jobs. The front office would have had heads rolling and the roster likely would have faced major changes.
When it mattered, the stars delivered. That didn't happen in 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 or 2021. There is still time for my comments to be twisted, but for now, it seems like 2022 may finally be different.
3. Spezza's Leadership is Evident
After Sheldon Keefe was so obviously outclassed by Jon Cooper in Game 4, it was good to see Toronto's coach get the better of the Lightning boss. Not only were the Leafs more disciplined than Tampa Bay in Game 5, but they also responded much better to changes in momentum. After a brutal first period, the Leafs responded to Tampa Bay's dominance very well. But from quotes in the media, we heard that it wasn't Sheldon Keefe that spurred on Toronto's response.
Anybody who watched "All or Nothing" last year knows exactly how good an orator Sheldon Keefe is. But apparently it wasn't Keefe who got his team going.
Veteran Jason Spezza was kept out in Games 1 and 2, but in Game 3, he was named a starter after Wayne Simmonds' poor start to the series. His offensive game was quite good in Game 5, but his impact was even larger in the locker room.
The Leafs' players later said that they were inspired by a speech from Spezza and they came out swinging in the second period. Toronto have usually had a team leader, but Spezza is possibly the best they've had in a very long time.
4. Campbell Responds Well
After a disaster of a Game 4, Jack Campbell found his way back to the top. Maybe eating soup had something to do with it?
Either way, it was a very solid game for "Soup." The chants were very loud early in the game, so that may have boosted his confidence. However, after the two goals for Tampa Bay, Campbell looked lost. He didn't seem prepared to face the pressure. While every shot against Andrei Vasilevskiy looked like it was going right at him, Tampa Bay's medium-danger chances seemed to always have a real chance of going in the net. It wasn't good for my heart rate, but Campbell seemed to handle it pretty well.
Game 6 will be at a very hostile Amalie Arena and it will be up to Campbell to prove that he can handle the pressure. Campbell has a legitimate chance to win the series for Toronto. If he can do so, he'll gain legendary status in this city and a lot of money for himself.
5. Vasilevskiy Failing to be the Great Equalizer
The player that was supposed to win this series for Tampa Bay was their goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy. That hasn't exactly been the truth so far in this series. "Vasy" has an .880 SV% and a 3.65 goals against average. Those aren't numbers that you'd expect from the talented Russian netminder. To win this series, Tampa Bay was expected to need elite goaltending from Vasilevskiy. They simply haven't been getting that.
However, Vasilevskiy's stats after a loss in the last few playoff runs are absolutely terrifying. He is the best goalie in the league after a loss. If Tampa Bay wants to at least force a Game 7, they need Andrei Vasilevskiy to be his dominant self back in Tampa Bay.
ALL STATS COURTESY OF MONEYPUCK, NATURAL STAT TRICK AND EVOLVING HOCKEY
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