Every NHL team goes through its ups and downs, so for one team to dominate another for nearly a quarter of a century is very rare. That is the case with the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs though.
The Maple Leafs hadn’t won a game in regulation in Chicago since February, 12, 2003, just over 22 years. Whether a team is good or bad, the NHL is set up so that any team can win on any night. For Toronto to come into Chicago for the last 22 years and not get a finish off the Blackhawks in regulation is a crazy streak that was finally broken.
Chicago went up 1-0 in the first period, but the Maple Leafs stormed back in the second period and locked down the game from there, eventually winning 5-2.
It was a matter of time that the Maple Leafs came into Chicago and defeated them in regulation because Toronto is a top team and the Blackhawks are once again at the bottom of the standings. It has been that way for the last number of years now, but the reason why this streak could go on for as long as it did is the teams play in each other’s building just once per season.
The Blackhawks have made the playoffs once in the past seven seasons, and that’s only because of the play-in for the 2019-20 season. They finished last in four of those seasons and are set to again in 2024-25.
The Maple Leafs have made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons and are set to again. With the win over the Blackhawks, Toronto moved into first in their division. Toronto does seem to play down to the level of some worse teams, but I don’t see home domination continuing from Chicago against the Maple Leafs until Connor Bedard and the group vastly improve.
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