Leafs Post Game: C’mon Man

Just when you think everything is working out according to plan, you remember just how repulsive a franchise the Philadelphia Flyers can be.

Everything laid out perfectly, a regulation loss for the Maple Leafs tonight would have not only clinched 30th overall and the best odds of landing Auston Matthews. On top of that, two points for the Flyers would have made it a lot more likely that one of two loathsome division rivals would have been eliminated from the playoffs. Now what do we get? We have to sweat out two games on Saturday. On top of that, we might have to put up with both Boston and Detroit making the playoffs, something that didn’t look like 24 hours ago. Thanks a lot Philly.

The Flyers came out to a horrendously slow start. With both teams playing their second game in as many nights, you would have thought Toronto was the team that was running on the adrenaline of a playoff push. The Leafs opened the scoring early with another from ‘The Human Conditioner Ad’ William Nylander who after a bit of a rocky start is showing exactly why we should all be very excited about more than just his baby-faced smile.

The crowd then went full-Philadelphia as the boos came raining down on the home team as they entered the first intermission trailing 2-0 after a beautiful breakaway goal from the pride of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Colin Greening.

After getting the lead back down to one midway through a dominant 3rd period, the Flyers eventually tied it with the goalie pulled and less than a minute left. Just when you’re ready to flush your season down the toilet, the guy from Scarborough has to come and save the day, Wayne Simmonds sent the game to overtime and got the Flyers a single point to keep them only one behind Boston for the final Wildcard spot with a game in hand.

Of course, this Leafs team can’t even tank right. Jake Gardiner scored a powerplay goal in overtime to pull the Leafs to 69 points and a nice spot tied with the Oilers for 29th place in the NHL.

In a season that has seen numerous players show they are definitely not going to be in the plans for next season, Colin Greening is one that got a second lease on life and is making the most of it. After coming over as a salary dump in the Dion Phaneuf trade, Greening has looked great and if forcing his way into the picture for next season and beyond. He scored his fourth goal in the past four games tonight and has been nothing but a pleasant surprise. 

Now we have to wait, 30th place comes down to the games Saturday night. a top-5 pick is clinched but we’re greedy here at Tank Nation. We want last and the guarantee of the best draft lottery odds. What’s worse than sitting through these last few painful games? Having to rely on the Edmonton Oilers to win a game. As horrifying a thought as it is, Tank Nation has to be fans of the Oilers for a night. Lucky for us, that means we get to cheer against the Vancouver Canucks one last night this season Saturday night. 

It may have taken a step back tonight but until Saturday, the tank rolls on.