CBJ vs TOR - EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS RECAP

After the sweep of the New Jersey Devils, the Blue Jackets advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals to square off against one of the league's most improved teams in the Toronto Maple Leafs. After finishing well out of a playoff spot last season, Leafs general manager LedTasso was able to lead the team to a wild card spot and into the Conference Finals in what was only his second year at the helm of the franchise. An impressive feat for the young GM, but the Blue Jackets would present what might be the biggest challenge yet of the young GM's blossoming RHL career. The Leafs were up to the challenge as they jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the series, before Columbus' veteran prowess broke through flipping the momentum in game 5 before finally closing out the series in another series that went the distance to seven games. 

With home ice advantage now secured for the remainder of the playoffs and playing in front of a sold out Nationwide Arena, Columbus jumped out to the early lead in the series taking the first game at home by a score of 3-1. Darcy Kuemper kept up his stellar play turning aside 28 of 29 shots faced, and the top line combination of Andrei Svechnikov, Mika Zibanejad, and Tage Thompson continued to produce for the Jackets. Tage Thompson opened the scoring just 44 seconds into the game off a feed from Zibenajad, with Svechnikov picking up the secondary assist on the play. Zibanejad then scored what would prove to be the game winning goal just 2:28 into the second period off a feed from Hampus Lindholm, with Thompson also picking up an apple, continuing the trend of these two players appearing on the scoresheet together throughout the previous two rounds. The Maple Leafs were able to climb within one, before Thompson sealed the game with the insurance goal coming midway through the third period. 

Then things turned dicey for the Jackets in the Eastern Conference finals as the Maple Leafs were able to win the next three games, with all three wins coming in overtime for Toronto. Darcy Kuemper had what would prove to be his roughest stretch of the playoffs, allowing 12 goals over that three game stretch, with five goals coming in the second game alone, the same amount of goals he allowed in the entire series against the previous season's Cup Champions New Jersey Devils in the last round. The Maple Leafs second line combined for an impressive six points as the Jackets fell by a score of 5-4 in game 2 with Brayden Schenn scoring the overtime game winner on the powerplay after a questionable cross checking call against Columbus Captain Duncan Keith in the extra period. 

Kuemper again stumbled in the third game, allowing 4 goals on 35 shots for an unimpressive .886 SV%. The Jackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Carl Hagelin and Brandon Hagel, getting his first goal of the postseason, before the Maple Leafs were able to score three unanswered goals to roar back and take the lead heading into the third period. Columbus wasn't about to go down without a fight though, as the top line was able to find the back of the net with Andrei Svechnikov tying up the game midway through the third period. Ultimately the second line of Toronto came through for them again, with Josh Norris netting the game winner only 1:49 into overtime. 

The fourth game was more of the same, even with a slight lineup adjustment from GM MixtureBill which saw struggling Brandon Hagel moved down to the third line, with a promotion to the second line for Nick Paul in the hopes that he could add a bit more of a physical and defensive presence on the second line. Though Kuemper bounced back relatively well after a couple of stinkers, this time only allowing three goals on the game, though unable to come up with the big save when Columbus needed it most in the extra frame. This time the Maple Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Jackets were able to score back to back goals in the second period to tie the game. It's worth mentioning that something was the foot with the game's referees, as they seemed to have it out for the Jackets in this game, awarding the Maple Leafs with five powerplays, without giving the man-advantage even a single time to the Blue Jackets.

Then the Columbus squad found their second wind in the series as they came storming back on home ice with the series on the line, firing 38 shots on net and finding the back of the net 3 times for a 3-2 overtime victory. With perhaps a bit more of a focus on the officiating, the powerplay opportunities evened up at one a piece in this game and the Jackets were able to take advantage of their lone opportunity on the man advantage which game only a couple of minutes into the game, with their dynamic duo of Mika Zibenajad and Tage Thompson connecting yet again. The game would head to extra time yet again before Tage Thompson was able to sneak one past Anton Forsberg on a feed from Andrei Svechnikov that would swing the momentum back in favor of the Jackets. 

With the momentum now on their side, the Jackets wouldn't let go of the reins as they won the next two games by a score of 3-1 in each game. The Maple Leafs tried to regain control when they were able to get on the board first in game 6 just 4 seconds into the game. Even after giving away the early goal the Blue Jackets didn't get discouraged and scored three unanswered goals, with Nazem Kadri finding the back of the net twice, and Brandon Hagel picking up his second of the playoffs to finish the scoring for the jackets. Then game 7 being played on home ice felt like the ice was totally tilted in the right direction for Columbus, as a return to the Stanley Cup finals was within their sight. Darcy Kuemper again returned to the top star spot for Columbus stopping 35 of 36 shots and closing the door on the Maple Leafs fantastic run in the 2022-23 season. The Jackets scored three goals in a row with playoff leaders Matthew Beniers, Andrei Svechnikov, and Tage Thompson all finding the back of the net before Toronto scored what was ultimately a harmless goal with four minutes remaining in the third. 

Columbus would like to congratulate GM LedTasso and the Toronto Maple Leafs on an amazing run through the 22-23 Playoffs. After sneaking in with a wildcard berth, the Leafs were able to defeat heavily favored Montreal Canadiens in the first round, after the Habs had one of the biggest turnarounds in RHL history after placing 29th in the standings last season and then leading their division and being one of the top regular season performers in the entire league this year. The Leafs were then able to take out the perennial powerhouse Panthers in the second round before ultimately pushing the Jackets to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. This is likely just the first flash of what will certainly prove to be one of the brightest lights of the RHL in the young career of GM LedTasso.