{"id":9110,"date":"2017-04-24T20:45:02","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T00:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=9110"},"modified":"2017-04-24T20:45:02","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T00:45:02","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-playoff-run-proved-theyre-ready-compete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/04\/24\/toronto-maple-leafs-playoff-run-proved-theyre-ready-compete\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Run Proved They’re Ready to Compete"},"content":{"rendered":"

This time last year, before Auston Matthews<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0made a name for himself in Toronto, before Mitch Marner<\/a> <\/strong>played his first\u00a0NHL\u00a0<\/strong>game, and before the Toronto Maple Leafs\u00a0even had a starting goaltender, would anyone believe in this Toronto\u00a0team on making the playoffs? Once the 2016-17 season began, there was still little talk about the possibility that this team full of rookies, backed up by a mediocre defensive core, would make a sudden impact in the league. Fast forward back to present time, the Leafs are fresh out of the playoffs after being knocked out in six games by the Presidents\u2019 Trophy winning Washington Capitals. It’s never fun losing a close series, especially as the underdog, but the Maple Leafs proved they’re ready to compete at any time.<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Run Proved They’re Ready to Compete<\/h2>\n

Young and Tough Competition<\/h3>\n

The series against Washington was tighter than expected as the 1 versus 8 seed match up turned out to be arguably the closest series in the first round, not to mention the longest lasting.<\/p>\n

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Six one-goals games.
Five decided in overtime.
Goals: Washington 18, Toronto 16.
Shots: Toronto 213, Washington 212.
Epic.<\/p>\n

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 24, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n