Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
The Toronto Maple Leafs look to eliminate the Montreal Canadiens tonight in the National Hockey League North semifinals.
The Leafs, with 3 straight victories, have overcome a 1-0 series deficit and now lead the best of 7; 3 games to 1.
Over the past 3 games, Toronto has outscored Montreal 11-2 which illustrates one of several issues for Montreal.
Off season acquisitions Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli who were major factors early in Montreal’s success this year have dried up in the post season.
Plus, some proven, gifted, producers from the past, like Eric Staal and Corey Perry, in fairness are no longer game breakers.
True, the scores in the series have been tight, but a large amount of credit for that has to go to Canadiens netminder Carey Price who’s been both brilliant and unbelievable at various points over the first 4 games.
But Price, to a certain extent, also represents another issue for the Habs.
Drafted in the opening round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the list of Canadiens first rounders that followed Carey Price features players succeeding elsewhere in the NHL or guys you’ve never heard of and never will from an NHL standpoint.
Compare that to the Leafs list of first rounders playing in this series; Sandin, Matthews, Marner, Nylander & Reilly.
Sure, Montreal fans are always quick to scoff at the Leafs Stanley Cup futility, but 1993 wasn’t yesterday and based on the performance in this series, I don’t see a Habs Stanley Cup any time soon.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.