The Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway and the first round is still going while the three other series will start round two and that means the Last Word on Hockey Show was back on the MAD Radio Network. Your host Jim Biringer from lastwordonhockey.com was back alongside Coach Jay and March Weiss. The boys are joined by Ken Campbell formerly of The Hockey News to discuss the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens first-round series. How the Maple Leafs lost the series, where the Canadiens won, and where Toronto goes from here? The play of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner along with so much more.
The Last Word on Hockey Show: Mitch Marner and Maple Leafs Fallout
Maple Leafs-Canadiens Game 7
Jim welcomes everyone to a special edition of the program on Tuesday, June 1st as he is joined by Ken Campbell. They talk about what happened in Game 7 between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Campbell says there is no excuse for the Maple Leafs to blow a 3-1 series lead to Montreal. He says the series was lost in Game 6 with that poor performance especially after Game 5. Campbell says that the loss to Montreal is worse than Boston in 2013. He explains that Toronto was not supposed to be in that series and rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to force a Game 7. Yeah, that one in 2013 stings, but there is no excuse for Game 7 against Montreal. They had the foot on the gas pedal and took it off.
Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews No Show
Jim looks at the Canadiens side of things. Says you have to give credit for the way Montreal played in the series especially shutting down Matthews and Marner. But Campbell states that the Maple Leafs needed more from them. During the seven-game series, the duo combined one goal, not good enough for what they are getting paid. Carey Price stepped up when he needed to and lived up to his contract, but as Ken notes not a smart strategy to just battle into the playoffs and have Price rested. Marner now zero goals in 18 playoff games. Something has to change.
Where Do The Maple Leafs Go From Here
Jim asks Ken where Toronto goes from here. Campbell says the Maple Leafs are a great organization and have resources at their hands. Most teams would kill to have what Toronto has, but something needs to change. Campbell looks at possibly moving players. Do they change the coach? That is a possibility. Management is probably not going anywhere, but Campbell says the Maple Leafs cannot come back the same in October.
Jim and Ken chat more about the collapse of the Maple Leafs and how Montreal won the series. They also take a trip around the NHL before closing out the show.
Enjoy!
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