This past season has seemed like an exercise in separating Leafs fans’ emotions from reality. The Leafs didn’t get John Tavares and then roll over every opponent. That was Tampa, inconveniently located in the same division and blessed with a boatload of luck in shooting, shootouts and the ability to win in front of a bad backup layered on top of their talent.
The Leafs didn’t limp along without half their team, getting lucky on one-goal games and then going on a well-timed streak near the end of the season. That was Boston, who can spin a tale of grit and heart and iron-clad systems because there’s no such thing as luck.