Montreal or Boston? A Toronto fans perspective.

     With the playoffs fast approaching and the regular season coming to an end, which is the better team for the Toronto Maple Leafs to play? It goes both ways for Leaf fans, some would prefer a Montreal-Toronto first round playoff match as others would prefer a Boston-Toronto first round match. Ever since the Maple Leafs have been in a playoff position, the same statement always arises, "Toronto's players don't have the experience to make it far into the playoffs". James Reimer has been carrying the weight of Leaf Nation for three seasons, and he thinks that’s experience enough.

“We’re a young team, but there are a lot of guys who have played a lot even at their young age,” said forward Joffrey Lupul. “There’s a little more experience here than we’re given credit for.”

    This season Boston had the best of Toronto with a 3-1 record. Boston being the better team, it seems as though Toronto would still have a chance. While James Reimer has been on his game, against Boston his save percentage is .948, saving 91 out of 96 shots faced. That's only 5 goals in 3 games, which shows that goal-tending has not been a problem against Boston. With Tim Thomas being away from the net, Tuukka Rask, a less experienced goalie has stepped up and has been the number one goalie for Boston with a save percentage of .958 against Toronto this season, saving 46 of 48 shots he faced. With a power play of only scoring once on eleven chances, Toronto's difficulty scoring on Boston continues, but with Joffrey Lupul's return to the bench should that be enough to spark more opportunities of scoring and creating more chances?

     Toronto has had the best of Montreal with a record of 3-1 with still one game left on the season against each other. With James Reimer save percentage at .986, saving 73 of 74 shots, it seems as though he is more comfortable playing against Montreal. Toronto's power play being better against Montreal with scoring 5 goals on 15 opportunities. With games ending in scores of 6-0 and 5-1, Toronto's offence has been good with scoring and creating opportunities off the rush. Or maybe it is because of the Montreal net-minder Carey Price? With a save percentage of .840 and saving 68 of 81 shots faced, that's 13 goals against in the three games he has played against Toronto this season. It's the part I love about hockey which is being unpredictable. Will Carey Price step up his game and be the best that we all know he can be? It is questions like these that can be asked for so long, but can only be answered on game day. 

    The Canadiens and Maple Leafs have met in the playoffs 15 times. To date, Montreal has won 8, Toronto 7. It has been 33 years since the last meeting between these two teams in the playoffs, this only making the rivalry even bigger. With only five games left remaining in the regular season, and one still against the Montreal Canadiens, questions will become answers as everything unfolds.