TSN's Chris Johnston: “No way around” consequences for Oilers, Leafs

It's no secret that both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are under considerable pressure this season to, at the very minimum, win a single postseason round. 

It goes without saying that the Leafs haven't advanced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs past Round 1 since the 2003-04 season when they took down the provincial rival Ottawa Senators in a thrilling seven-game set. Meanwhile, the Oilers will be looking to advance for the first time since 2016-17 when they fell to the Anaheim Ducks - also in seven games. 

Both squads are tied in their respective series at two games apiece, and right now, both of their opponents have the momentum. The Tampa Bay Lightning stomped the Leafs last night to the tune of a 7-3 final score, while the Los Angeles Kings held the Oilers off the scoresheet as Jonathan Quick earned his 10th career postseason shutout in the 4-0 win. 

TSN's Chris Johnston joined Bryan Hayes, JeffO'Neill and Jamie McLennan earlier today to discuss what he feels are the similarities between both the Maple Leafs and Oilers, and had a better outlook for one squad heading into the pivotal Game 5 later this week. 

"I have reasonable faith in them," Johnston said of the Oilers. "Credit to the Kings, they played hard, doing it without Drew Doughty and Victor Arvidsson, who are both injured. But I don't see them being quite the opponent that we're talking about with the Tampa Bay Lightning that Toronto are facing. 

"It's strange, the Leafs and Oilers seem to be cosmically linked. They just seem to have a lot from the high level the same sort of questions about them. Obviously, the individual talent, guys who are stacked up individual end of season awards with frequency and are looking to have more of an impact in the spring. I think Edmonton will get the job done, it's nice to have home ice."

Not only did the Maple Leafs set their franchise record for wins and points in a season, but forward Auston Matthews gave opposition goaltenders sunburn from the number of times the red light was lit behind them to the tune of 60 goals - the most in team history. Meanwhile, the Oilers overcame early season inconsistency that cost head coach Dave Tippett his job to once again qualify for the postseason thanks to the offensive firepower led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. 

But, as Johnston pointed out, there's "no way around" the fact that changes will be made if both teams fail to advance past Round 1. 

"As I say, I don't think they're up against the same kind of challenge that Toronto is facing in Tampa," he said. "But the margins are small now, and if they have any demons of their own or anything blocking their best performance, we'll probably find out in the next three or four days. And if they do, much like Toronto, there will be ramifications. There will be fallout if they don't get past the 1st round. No way around it, especially in Edmonton's case that they have to at least win a round to have any faith in the program they have with that franchise right now." 

The Maple Leafs/Lightning and Oilers/Kings are back in action in their respective Game 5's tomorrow night.