Comparing the Toronto Maple Leafs with the Conference Finalists
The NHL playoffs continue without the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the Eastern and Western Conference Finals currently underway.
The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers compete in the East, while the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars face off in the West.
Given that all of these teams were considered Stanley Cup contenders for the majority of the season, these outcomes should come as no surprise.
However, it is important mentioning that, while the Maple Leafs’ head office, coaches, players, and supporters aspired to win the Stanley Cup, this team was only considered seriously in Toronto. The odds, which demonstrate a lack of regard for the Maple Leafs as a Cup contender, are instructive.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Conference Finalists
On May 3rd, the day before game seven against the Boston Bruins, oddsmakers gave the Leafs a measly 3.7% probability of winning the Cup, compared to the Bruins’ 6.25% chance, despite being in the identical circumstances, one game away from elimination.
It is worth noting that, despite their limitations, the Maple Leafs demonstrated their promise throughout the regular season. They outperformed the four teams who advanced to the conference finals. The Leafs had a respectable 7-5 record versus these dangerous opponents, outscoring them 41-36 in 12 games.
This record against the conference finalists does not imply that the Maple Leafs would have won the Stanley Cup if they had defeated the Boston Bruins, but it does demonstrate that the gap between the Leafs and the greatest NHL teams is significantly narrower than the odds projected.
But, obviously, there is a gap there, or the Leafs would still be playing, so let us discuss what these distinctions are and what has driven these four teams to the conference finals. All statistics are obtained using NaturalStatTrick.
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