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Columbus Blue Jackets

Reputable Insiders Pick Blue Jackets Over Maple Leafs

A couple of NHL insiders have picked the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Toronto Maple Leafs in a five-game series. What’s their reasoning?

Now, this is not the opinion of every NHL insider, just a couple well-known ones. That said, Mark Masters and Craig Button are fairly well-respected in the industry and both have suggested the Toronto Maple Leafs could have their hands full with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

On Monday night, Button acknowledged that the Maple Leafs are a highly-skilled team. That goes without saying. But, he questions whether or not they have the overall edge going into a play-in round against the Blue Jackets. Saying the Blue Jackets are a team that contests every puck and every square inch of ice, “they don’t beat themselves, they’re excellent defensively.”

He added, “If the Leafs don’t dial in to the details, he doesn’t like their chances at all.”

Suggesting it’s more than just the small details, his colleague and Leafs insider Mark Masters notes there’s a ton of pressure on goalie Frederik Andersen, who usually doesn’t come out of the gate too well.

Masters notes that Andersen won’t have the luxury of getting warmed up when play resumes on August 1, and in the past, has often needed a few games to get himself comfortable. Unfortunately, a few games against the Blue Jackets could be all she wrote for the Maple Leafs. Gino Reda of TSN pointed out that last year there was 111 days between the awarding of the Cup and the start of the regular season. When play resumes in August (assuming the dates are right) Andersen will have been looking at a 142-day break.

Does all of this add up to a less-than ideal match-up for the Leafs? The two teams have split their meetings, with Columbus getting the latest victory in an overtime win on October 21.

Anything Can Happen

Other insiders have looked at certain play-in brackets, some taking Chicago to beat the Oilers and others picking underdogs to move on. To say the least, anything can happen in a five-game series and most insiders are suggesting these play-in rounds could be a crap shoot. Perhaps that’s what might make these match-ups so much fun. They are extremely hard to predict.

And, as you can see from the video at the top of the article, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet also noted the Maple Leafs should be worried. He called the battle intriguing and says he believes the tight play of the Blue Jackets could give the Maple Leafs pause for concern. Life-long Leafs fan Steve Dangle said John Tortorella’s coaching could play a factor, but isn’t sure how much.

Who would you pick? The Maple Leafs or the Blue Jackets?

Related: Jake DeBrusk Not Likely to Take Hometown Discount

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