Toronto Maple Leafs Vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Spread the love

One of the most intriguing NHL qualifying series‘ is the Columbus Blue Jackets Vs Toronto Maple Leafs! The winner will advance to the first round of the 2020 NHL Playoffs.

Maple Leafs vs Blue Jackets || NHL Playoffs Trailer 2020 - YouTube
Toronto Maple Leafs Vs Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Toronto Maple Leafs #8 Vs Columbus Blue Jackets #9 Overview

Their regular-season records are nearly identical. Each team has garnered 81 points in 70 games played for a points percentage of 0.571. The teams’ similarities effectively end right there, as they play directly opposing styles. The Maple Leafs are a high-flying, high-scoring team that doesn’t pay too much attention to defense. On the contrary, the Blue Jackets focus on the opposite side of the spectrum. Head Coach John Tortorella’s has a system that puts the emphasis on defense and goaltending.

The Maple Leafs ranked 2nd in the NHL in goals. From a Columbus Blue Jackets perspective, the team was tied at 27th in the goals category.

Defense is another story. The Blue Jackets are among the best in terms of defense. They rank 4th in the league in goals allowed. However, the Maple Leafs have struggled mightily! Toronto is ranked 25th in goals allowed.

Toronto Maple Leafs Key Factors

They say defense wins championships. I am going to keep this ‘Leafs key factor simple. They need to play better defensively. Yes, Columbus is ranked toward the bottom of the league in goals but things tighten up in the playoffs. Toronto can not depend on their forwards to bail them out of highly contested playoff games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defense starts with Frederik Andersen. Andersen is the clear starter while newly-acquired Jack Campbell will backup. Andersen struggled at times this season. He is a main reason on why the ‘Leafs never threatened teams on top of the Atlantic Division.

If Toronto is going to beat the Blue Jackets, they will need Frederik Andersen to be at the top of his game.

NHL Fantasy Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets Key Factors

Ranking 27th in goals for in the regular-season is a tell-tale sign for what the Blue Jackets have to avoid in the postseason. After the departures of forwards Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel last season, they’re offense has been on life support.

The star players that they do have, like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Gustav Nyquist, will have to step up their game big time if they want to compete with the Maple Leafs offense.

The Blue Jackets have one of the most interesting goalie situations in the NHL. After the departure of starter Sergei Bobrovsky in the 2019 free agency, the reigns were passed nervously over to Joonas Korpisalo.

He played well in the beginning of the season putting up respectable numbers. Then he got injured and the team was forced to put rookie goalie Elvis Merzlikins in as the starter. It didn’t start off well but he found his way and put on a show with five shutouts in nine games at one point.

If whoever Tortorella decides to start in goal can play at his best, the Blue Jackets will have a real chance at defeating the Maple Leafs.

NHL Series Prediction – Columbus Blue Jackets In FIVE

Similar to their upset last season of the number one seeded Tampa Bay Lightning, Tortorella’s boys will pull it off again versus the Maple Leafs!

Play StatementGames Fantasy Sports

Also Available In the Apple & Google Play Store

GIVE A BOOST

Comments are closed.