The Toronto Maple Leafs enter a big week this week, and depending on how they do, they could end up at the top of the Atlantic Division or fall to third place. The good news is that it shouldn’t be a difficult week, as they face off against four teams below them in the standings.
This team has not looked good of late. For a team with playoff aspirations, the Leafs have gone 4–4–0 in the last eight game, with their last game being a 5–2 loss to the basement-dwelling Nashville Predators, who they blew a 2–0 lead to in the second period.
Both Auston Matthews and Coach Craig Berube talked about needing to be better down the stretch, and hopefully, this is the week they do it.
Let’s take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ schedule for the week of March 24th.
Toronto Maple Leafs games for the week of March 24
Here’s how this week shapes out.
| Opponent | Date | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Flyers | Tuesday, March 25 | 28-35-9 |
| San Jose Sharks | Thursday, March 27 | 19-42-9 |
| Los Angeles Kings | Saturday, March 29 | 39-21-9 |
| Anaheim Ducks | Sunday, March 20th | 30-32-8 |
Can the Leafs go 3–0 against the Philadelphia Flyers?
This will be the final meeting between the Leafs and Flyers this season, and the final game for Toronto at home before they head out of a California trip for the balance of the week. The Leafs took both games against the Flyers back in January, picking up a pair of 3–2 wins, one in overtime and one in 60 minutes.
Matthew Knies was a bright spot in both games, scoring a goal in each. The first game saw the Leafs get scoring from their defencemen, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson in regulation and Morgan Reilly in overtime picked up the other two goals. Dennis Hildeby was phenomenal in this one, stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced.
In game two, Joseph Woll also went 30 for 32, but the Leafs’ big guns, John Tavares and Matthews, put the puck in the net. Both games were intensely physical, and much of the same should be expected in this one. This is a game where former Flyer Scott Laughton should shine.
If they want to pick up the win, the Leafs will need to shut down Travis Konecny, who had two goals in the series. The good news is that the Flyers sit 26th in the league in scoring, 28th in goals allowed, and have the 30th-best power play this season.
California dreaming for the Leafs
The Leafs then head out to California to take on three California teams to end the week. First off, it’s the San Jose Sharks who they Play first on Thursday night. The Leafs lost in a shootout to the Sharks on March 3rd falling by a 3–2 score. John Tavares and Matthew Knies scored for the Leafs on the power play in the second, but the Sharks battled back to score twice in the third before winning it in a shootout. The Sharks are a not great team, and this should be a game the Leafs can win.
The real test will be the Los Angeles Kings, who the Leafs play on Saturday night. Toronto picked up a 6–2 win early in the season at home against the Kings, with Bobby McMann scoring twice. The Leafs chased former netminder David Rittich from the net halfway through the game.
Los Angeles is the only playoff team the Leafs play on this road trip, who sit second in the Pacific division, tied in points with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Leafs then end against the Anaheim Ducks, who they beat on December 12th by a 3–2 score. Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist as they knocked off the Ducks that night. The Ducks are also a below .500 team this year, with just 68 points. They will be looking for a high draft pick this year, and should hopefully be an easy test for the Leafs.
Keys to the week for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Quite frankly, these are all games the Leafs should win. Not only are they a stronger team on paper, they are built well and have excellent defence and depth. Expect the Leafs to rotate their goalies, with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz splitting time in the crease.
The team will need a lot from their top players this week, with Tavares, Nylander, Marner, and Matthews needing to be at their best coming down the stretch. Adding complementary scoring from McMann, who has been great of late, as well as Knies, Robertson, and more will help build momentum coming down the stretch.
While this week should be easier, the next two will not. The Leafs play the Florida Panthers twice. Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes before this season ends. Those will be the big tests going into the playoffs, and odds are the Leafs will play one of Florida or Tampa in the first round.
The challenge for the Leafs this season has been putting all the pieces together. They’ve had moments where they’ve looked outstanding, and moments where they’ve looked like less than a playoff team. If they can get all the pieces pulling in the right direction, they should go 4–0 this week. However, that’s easier said than done.
Going into the final 12 games of the year, the Leafs will need to build momentum going into the postseason or it will be yet another first-round exit for a club that’s all too familiar with that feeling.
The team has been clear that they need to be better and that they are capable of more than they’ve been showing on the ice of late. However, at the end of the day, all that matters is the results on the scoreboard, and the Leafs will need to show this week that they can put up the results that will make the fan base believe that this year is the year.
