2020 MRFHL Finals Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs

QF: defeated Senators in 4 games

SF: defeated Lightning in 5 games

CF: defeated Flyers in 6 games

 The Toronto Maple Leafs have built themselves a bit of a mini-dynasty here with their third trip to the finals in four years. What would help cement their legacy is adding another Cup to the trophy case. The Leafs have been doing everything to build towards this moment the last 12 months. They made only one big free agent signing, spending big money to bring in Darcy Kuemper as the teams starter. They bulked up their offence by trading for wingers Phil Kessel and Boone Jenner mid-season. They also shored up their defence by trading for an albatross of a contract in Erik Johnson, but a player who continues to be a reliable minute eater in the MRFHL. 

The journey, predictably, has escalated in difficulty the further it has progressed. They coasted through the province rival Senators, despite playing some close games in Ottawa. After dropping the first game to the Lightning, they proceeded to rattle off four consecutive wins, although with two close calls in OT the series was closer on paper than it may have been led to be believed. The Leafs once again dropped the first game to the Flyers, but were able to build up a 3-1 series lead before finally closing it off in 6, another grind towards the finals. 

While questioned as an overpayment in the off-season, the Kuemper signing has paid off immeasurably in the playoffs. With a .928 SV% he has been absolutely incredible, only losing twice in regulation. While the dominant duo of two years ago, James Neal and David Krejci, are no longer Leafs, it’s been another exciting pair that have led the way. Dylan Larkin and Phil Kessel have been a dominant pairing since the latter was acquired mid-season and have been the catalyst for one of the better offences in the playoffs. The Leafs have averaged just over 2 goals per game, over half a goal less than their upcoming opponents.

Colorado Avalanche

QF: defeated Blackhawks in 6 games

SF: defeated Stars in 6 games

CF: defeated Oilers in 5 games

The Colorado Avalanche have also continually been building this year. They also spent big money on a UFA goalie bringing in Thomas Greiss, as well as winger Ilya Kovalchuk as he returned from the KHL.  The big revitalization has come over the last seven months as the Avalanche completely overhauled their defence, bringing in big name guys like Zdeno Chara, Tyler Myers, Dan Giradi and PK Subban. They also paid pennies on the dollar to bring a big piece up front, acquiring Ryan Getzlaf to bolster their first line. 

It was never going to be an easy journey for the Avalanche. With the Predators winning the division they would have to face-off against the “strong on paper” Chicago Blackhawks. With four out of six games being decided by a goal and even in the end the Avs being outscored in the series, they progressed through to the next round to face the Stars who upset the division winning Predators. A series that could have gone a completely different direction without PK Subban’s double OT heroics in Game 2, a goal that saved them from going down 2-0 on the road. The Avs would ultimately go on to win three of the next four, securing a spot in the conference finals against the President’s Trophy winning Edmonton Oilers. Despite winning both games in Edmonton, they dropped game 3 in Colorado, and it was another double overtime goal that may have saved this series from being swayed the other way. Sean Monahan’s Game 4 winner put the Oilers on the ropes and ultimately it would be Monahan again that would seal the Avalanche’s first trip to the Cup finals. 

While the Finnish duo of Koivu and Aho have supplied the bulk of the offence, it has been goal scoring by committee through the first three rounds, with seven different forwards scoring five or more goals (compared to the Leafs five), it will take a whole defence corps to stop this offence. While maybe not as sharp as his counterpart, Greiss has been one of the better goalies this post-season and showing up when most needed, with a 4-2 record in overtime games (stopping 40 of 42).

Prediction: Both teams are built from the net out and have understandably both been the better offensive teams in this playoffs. The X Factor may be if the playoffs continue to be stingy defensively, giving teams little opportunity to score. The Avalanche really need to win one of the games in Toronto, because the Leafs have been road warriors this entire playoffs, winning all seven they’ve played away from Scotiabank Arena. Leafs in 6