Should the Toronto Maple Leafs manage to defeat Ottawa on Thursday night, they will have simply fulfilled expectations. After finishing first in their division during the regular season, overcoming their initial playoff opponent in six games was considered the standard, the most probable outcome for the series.
However, regardless of whether they secure the win in Game 6 or ultimately lose the series, the way Game 5 unfolded will remain significant to this group`s history. It serves as a clear example of the pattern seen from the “Core Four” (plus Morgan Rielly) throughout their “Years of Recurring Heartbreak” in the playoffs.
That Tuesday night game felt identical to past crucial losses, whether it was Game 7 against Montreal or Game 5 versus Columbus. You could swap the uniforms or the goalies, but the atmosphere and result were the same. Decades from now, watching even a brief segment of that Game 5 against Ottawa would perfectly recall the feeling of those defeats.
The Maple Leafs made the opposing netminder look exceptional. Their key offensive players were completely neutralized. The power play became ineffective. They struggled to penetrate the opponent`s defensive zone and get close to the net. Instead of showing desperation and aggressively crashing the crease to force opportunities, they settled for mediocre shots before quietly heading back to the dressing room. This familiar script is typically followed by hesitant, cautiously optimistic comments to the press, as there`s little else for them to say in such moments.
