TORONTO | The Maple Leafs have won 206 games since the 2016-17 season. Only nine teams have crossed the 200-game winning mark in the past five seasons. But of the nine teams, there are two teams that haven’t made it through the first round of the playoffs in five years: the Leafs and the Wild (201 wins).
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The Lightning, which sits atop with 237 wins, lifted the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. The Capitals (229) and Blues (204) drank champagne in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The Penguins (218) rose to fame in 2016 and 2017.
Of the group of nine, there are therefore three other formations: the Bruins (220), the Predators (207), the Jets (206). Of this trio, we note appearances in the final for Boston in 2019 and for Nashville in 2017. On the Winnipeg side, there was a participation in the Western final in 2018.
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In Toronto, history has been repeating itself constantly since the arrival of two young prodigies in 2016-2017, Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner. They still haven’t had the happiness of winning a single round in the playoffs. Last year, the Canadian destroyed the hopes of the Torontonians by winning in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
In the Leafs’ camp, we will once again try to start from scratch.
“It’s a new season, it’s a new story to write,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe. We are focused on becoming a better team every day. “
“You can’t erase our past results,” Keefe continued. Unfortunately, it’s part of our history. We want to build good habits to work on specific elements of our game. But the most important thing will be to continue to believe in our group. “
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Eternal expectations
With just hours of a third preseason game against CH, Marner also cared little about expectations outside the locker room.
“I know there will still be high expectations for the Maple Leafs, especially from the media,” said the right winger. But for the players inside this dressing room, we also have high expectations. We will keep a mentality of one game at a time or one week at a time. There will be painful encounters. You just have to hang in there and form the best possible team. “
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A healthy captain
There are scenarios that are impossible to predict. Without the injury to John Tavares in the first game against the Habs, the Leafs might have managed to cast off their demons in the playoffs. But there is no point in speculating. There is now a certainty. Tavares, the team captain, is back in perfect health.
“It’s the most important thing, I’m getting back to peak physical condition,” Tavares said. If I wasn’t 100%, I’d be more nervous. As a player, you know inside you that it can get dangerous when there is still some things wrong. But I wouldn’t run such a risk. I have a family now and have more experience and wisdom. ”
“I consider myself lucky. I have recovered well from this mishap. I did not keep any after-effects. I had a good structure and I managed to do well. During the off season, I took a long break to rest well and prepare for this new season. “
Tavares was injured after accidental contact with Corey Perry, sustaining a concussion and a knee injury.
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Matthews patine
Having surgery on his right wrist in mid-August, Matthews is set to return to action for the season opener on October 13 against CH in Toronto. Last year’s Maurice-Richard Trophy winner with 41 goals has returned to training with his teammates, but he is not expected to play a single game by the end of the preseason schedule.
“Auston works excessively hard in the gym and he looked the same player in his early training sessions,” said Keefe. Players with exceptional talents have a knack for quickly picking up the pace. When you don’t play a single pre-season game, it’s not ideal. But a player like Auston doesn’t start from the same starting line as ordinary people. “
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