It’s true the Leafs‘ coaching staff was able to manage the ice time in the win over the Sabres last night, and the team didn’t have any travel of note to return home from Buffalo, but the team just played its seventh game in 12 days with two sets of back-to-backs. It is no joke.
With that in mind, the two biggest keys to success when in a really tough schedule situation like this one— facing a well-rested opponent and missing your best player to boot — are playing smart/giving up nothing cheaply, plus really solid goaltending.