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Toronto’s 10 Years of Playoff Pain
Markand’s playoff numbers against Maple Leaf are understandable. His winning goal in Game 3 of the second round of the series gave him 33 professional playoffs, the game in Toronto, the third place ever in NHL history. Only Gordie Howe (53 points) and Alex Delvecchio (35) scored more on the Leaf’s playoffs.
What makes Marchand’s statistics unique is the modern NHL background. Unlike Howe and Delvecchio, he dominated a much smaller league, and Marchand has accumulated his points in his 30-plus team era. The NHL playoffs have never been more competitive, but Marchand has been the Maple Leaf Killer.
Black Panther Trade Deadline Victory has already paid off
It wasn’t about fighting Maple Leaf when the Florida Panthers got the 37-year-old winger before the trade deadline. But it’s hard to believe that GM Bill Zito is at least not consider Markander’s success with Toronto was always successful.
Marchand started his NHL journey in 2009 and now has 14 careers to win playoff goals, the most in active players. Of these, five of them competed with the Maple Leafs and tied to the playoff championship against Toronto with Montreal Canadian legend Jean Beliveau, which is not surprising, with some Leaf fans joking about GM Brad Treliving starting for Marchand himself. Of course, the best way to mount a playoff weapon like Marchand is to get him into your roster, but Florida beats them and Leaf pays the price. Also Read: Marner’s Magic and Woll’s Wall: Leader in the NHL Playoffs 2-0 in the Toronto Maple Leafs
The leaves must shake the curse of Malgard to move forward
Toronto opened the playoff series, won the first two games and scored the goal with a 3-0 lead. But as history often shows, Markander has a trick to destroy the dreams of Leaf fans. His latest dagger shifted the momentum to the Panthers, who now looks excited and enters Game 4.
The question now is not whether Brad Marchand is a Toronto question, but whether Leaf can finally expel the demons associated with Marsand. As the series heats up, Markander’s name continues to be imminent, not only as an opponent, but one of the most influential playoff performers in NHL history.
Marchand’s impact on ICE has never been just statistics, it’s about time, perseverance and the incredible ability that emerges in the most important situations. He is not only a scorer. He is a symbol of burning leaves for more than a decade.
And, as long as he stands out in the NHL playoffs, Toronto’s path to the Eastern Conference finals may always run through and be blocked by Brad Marchand.
