I was understandably worried about the Leafs going up against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers had all the momentum going into this matchup, while the Leafs had nothing to lose. So what do the Maple Leafs have to do to emerge victorious?
I have three key concerns that I want to address regarding this series. There may be more, but these three are of particular importance.
Topping my list, my top three players must do what they do, only better.
Austin Matthews
Austin is to be the one the Leafs rely on to get the big goal. He has to be the leader. He's one of the most explosive offensive players in the NHL. With him for wheeling across the Sunrise shooting, passing, and doing what he does, Toronto will be much more successful.
Mitch Marner
Mitch is a slick playmaking forward. To be successful, Mitch has to be himself. He has to be involved in the play. He has to be stirred in the drink. If Mitch is being creative and causing havoc, the Leafs will be successful.
John Tavares
The captain's responsibility is to lead by example, setting the tone for the rest of the team. He has to be the leader in the dressing room. The one that speaks up when things aren't going exactly right. He has to steer the ship. He can't sit back and be a passenger. He has to ensure everyone is contributing their fair share.
The second key: no one takes time off. One of my greatest peeves is an NHL team not playing the full 60 minutes. The Leafs have often taken their foot off the gas pedal and allowed teams to get back in the game. They can't take this team politely. They cannot sit on their laurels and expect the Panthers to roll over. Winning the series will take a lot of hard work and dedication.
The final key is coaching the coach. Keefe cannot simply be out-coached. To avoid this, the Maple Leafs need to play their own game instead of playing a wide-open game like the Panthers. For the Maple Leafs to succeed, they must play their game.
Randy
No comments:
Post a Comment