Who could have predicted that one assistant coach being removed could completely turn this Toronto Maple Leafs team into a juggernaut?
On December 23rd, the team was dead last in the Eastern Conference, having lost five of their last six games. The power play was the worst in the NHL. Calls for head coach Craig Berube’s head were echoing through The Six. Some even suggested a trade of Auston Matthews might be a necessary, drastic move.
But on that day, assistant coach Marc Savard (who was in charge of that PP unit) was relieved of his duties. It seemed like just the first shoe to drop.
But a funny thing happened on the way to unlacing that other loafer (or skate, as it were). Toronto has gone on a 7-0-2 run since then. A run that has gotten them back to within a single point of a Wild Card berth in the Eastern Conference.
Some of the stats that have accompanied this streak are pretty remarkable for a team that was completely in the toilet back on Festivus (December 23). The Leafs must have aired their grievances, because the turnaround has been stunning. Here are their ratings league-wide in the following categories going into Saturday night, as noted on Hockey Night in Canada:
Leafs’ Remarkable Turnaround Since December 23:
| Points Percentage | .875 (7-0-2) | Tied / 2nd overall |
| Goals Scored | 34 | Tied / 1st |
| Power Play Pct. | 31.3% | Tied / 6th |
| Penalty Kill Pct. | 93.3% | 2nd overall |
Auston Matthews has returned to being Auston Matthews; the special teams have been elite; the bottom six has contributed consistently; and the goaltending has continued to be excellent.
But is the party about to end in Leaf Land? The team is about to enter a make-or-break juncture of their season.
Grueling schedule ahead to be a real test for Leafs
We’re about to find out just how authentic this all is. While they’ve been taking care of business against the likes of the Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and New Jersey Devils, the schedule is about to get real. As in, a real acid test.
Toronto’s next nine games will be as follows, beginning with a grueling four-game road trip:
- at Colorado Avalanche
- at Utah Mammoth
- at Vegas Golden Knights
- at Winnipeg Jets
- Minnesota Wild
- Detroit Red Wings
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Colorado Avalanche
- Buffalo Sabres
Aside from that one game at Winnipeg, this will be a daunting two-week stretch for the Leafs. The timing couldn’t be better, however.
With this punishing grind winding up several days before the Olympic Roster Freeze kicks in on February 4th, the front office should have a pretty clear idea at that point of exactly what kind of team they’ve got on their hands.
Can this group continue to be one of the better teams in the league, as they have been over the last 19 days? Or will they turn back into pumpkins? If it’s the latter, the ‘For Sale’ sign better be put out in the yard in short order. And if that’s the case, the two-week Olympic break could serve as a recalibration fortnight for the Toronto front office, to forge a way forward into the future.
