Boston’s epic Game 7 comeback win has raised questions about some of the Leafs' key players. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Some good storylines are shaping up early in the second round of the NHL playoffs:
Still, in some circles there is plenty of fallout from the first round to discuss and debate. There are too many leftovers to snack on.
Leafs' collapse lingers
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs' monumental collapse in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins still is being debated and deconstructed. The chatter will continue for days, especially with Toronto players expected to assemble to clean out their dressing room on Thursday morning.
Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle and general manager Dave Nonis will provide their season-concluding dissertations, too.
For some in Leafs Nation, the pain still lingers 72 hours later. There are more questions than answers. Haven't these poor Maple Leafs fans suffered enough?
It seems three different players have been blamed. Goalie James Reimer couldn't control rebounds. Mikhail Grabovski committed a turnover. So did young defenceman Jake Gardiner.
But this simply was an inexperienced team not ready to win. After nine years without a playoff date, the learning curve was too steep.
Not-so Great Eight
Meanwhile in Washington, Alex Ovechkin made a hasty exit before jetting off to Helsinki to help Russia defend its title at the 2013 world championship. The not-so Great Eight, whose team failed to muster a goal in the final two games of their series against New York, left tracks with remarks that there was an NHL conspiracy to make sure the Rangers were the victors.
"I am not saying there was a phone call from [the league], but someone just wanted Game 7," Ovechkin told Russian sports daily Sport Express after the 5-0 loss on Monday.
"For the ratings; you know, the lockout, escrow, the league needs to make profit."
In the seven-game series, the Rangers had 28 power-play opportunities to the Capitals' 16.
Rangers coach John Tortorella couldn't resist bringing up Ovechkin's sour grapes on Wednesday.
"I like where our team is as far as how they handle themselves," Tortorella said. "We've got everybody and their brother whining up there in Washington about what happened in that series, and I think that's a big reason why they lose that series.
"So I just think our mindset is very good, as far as not letting anything bothers us, just getting ready to play each day. Play the game, practice the next day and just go about our business."
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
