The Toronto Maple Leafs have started this season in much the same fashion they started their franchise record-breaking term last year.
On paper, the results are nearly identical; last year’s Toronto Maple Leafs team went 4-4-1 for the month, scoring 21 goals and giving up 29 against.
This season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 4-4-2 for the month of October, having scored 27 goals and conceded 30.
It’s by no means an ideal way to start a season, but it’s certainly not as catastrophic as people might have you believe, except one key fact that is different this year.