Ben Botelho

Well, that did not go as planned. Last night, the city of Toronto was gleaming with optimism—finally, a chance to win a series in five games and get the much-needed rest required to succeed in the next round. Instead, everything went wrong in the worst way possible. Let’s get this out of the way: if you thought this series was going to be easy, it’s time to start taking playoff hockey at face value. It’s difficult, and as a fan, you rarely get the best possible result.

For the first time in the “core four” era, the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing playoff hockey like a genuine contender. Game one demonstrated Craig Berube’s considerable impact on the team; he has transformed the Maple Leafs into a gritty, clinical, and disciplined Stanley Cup threat. Of the many positives that came from Sunday night’s playoff opener, the environment at Scotiabank Arena was a sight to behold.