Looking back, the best thing that ever happened to the Toronto Maple Leafs was blowing that 4-1 third period lead in Boston. At the time, it was excruciating. Up 4-1 in the game seven with about ten minutes to play, the upset was imminent. Or so we thought...
Had we won that game, would we have torn it all down for a true rebuild? Would the Shanaplan have come to town? Would we be where we are today?
Where we are today is what this entry is all about. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. The rookies have exceeded all expectations, and Auston Matthews is sitting on 39 goals. It's a young, fun team that's getting results for Mike Babcock. It's a team that looks like it's only a couple of years away from truly contending for the Stanley Cup.
We Leaf fans deserve this. If you exclude the shortened 2012-13 season, we haven't been in the playoffs since 2003-04. I was in my 20s in 2003-04 with a two year old who is now a hulking fifteen year old. And that fifteen year old owns an Auston Matthews jersey and absolutely adores his Leafs. I can't tell you how excited I am to watch Leaf playoff games with that boy.
Go Leafs Go!
