Another spring is here, and the Toronto Maple Leafs already look “poised” for another disappointing postseason showing.
After taking their lumps in the form of a 7-3 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 — thoroughly demoralizing their hometown fans — the Leafs would do well to do some soul-searching before this first-round series gets away from them.
Blaming the officiating, no matter how horrible, but it’s just an excuse for what is Toronto precedent in the playoffs by now. This sentiment holds true even if it’s a legend like Chris Chelios — who analyzed the game in ESPN’s studio — ripping awful work by the referees.
Chris Chelios on ESPN
“Absolutely terrible officiating. Worst in a while”
— Adam Seaborn (@AHBSeaborn) April 19, 2023
Was there a massive disparity in calls? Sure. Tampa Bay had eight power play opportunities to Toronto’s four, and the Lightning scored on four of those chances.
But the Leafs were clearly on their heels from the jump. The Leafs were the ones who, as usual, were pressing. A 3-0 early deficit is more in line with how Toronto has approached the postseason meekly than it is the officiating favoring the Lightning outright.
It’s a poor way of rationalizing the Leafs laying a giant egg. And if any of the players latch onto this thought process themselves, then Toronto will likely have no chance of battling back and finally advancing to the second round for the first time in almost two decades.
It’s the oldest excuse in the book.
Leafs fans agreed with Chelios' assessment of the officiating in Game 1
Chris Chelios calling out the bad officiating in the Tampa Bay- Toronto game on ESPN. But the @NHL doesn’t have an issue right?
— Drew Bryant (@BrewDryant) April 19, 2023
I’m now a Chris Chelios fan #LGRW https://t.co/TPgXtxGDtq
— A (@_marlanderthews) April 19, 2023
Everyone, including Chris Chelios, all game: “refs are a joke”
Everyone after the game: Leafs were terrible!They were not good tonight, but the refs were the story. I’m not letting the Leafs off the hook, Don’t let the refs off the hook, either.
— RORschach test (@mikyotex) April 19, 2023
Chris Chelios with the correct take. Love to see it. https://t.co/k2H8waHIPe
— Phil (@ArcadeRegiment) April 19, 2023
Idk man when you have Chris Chelios saying stuff like this… https://t.co/BLiffXh0OC
— Kyle Grimard (@kylegrimard) April 19, 2023
Why is no one addressing this??? https://t.co/85BywNBGeS
— serge petrovic (@thegoat2112) April 19, 2023
Every game, every playoff game, they are terrible. https://t.co/ABTJb0Asas
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) April 19, 2023
Chelios knows puck https://t.co/JRwZk8JYyj
— Buds All Day Podcast (@BudsAllDayCast) April 19, 2023
Gary Bettman to this the ESPN offices tomorrow https://t.co/rHmeYHUd5m pic.twitter.com/Wf8XOT6j1P
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) April 19, 2023
