Leafs are doing amazing well in holding their own
If you look at this objectively; if the Leafs play to the best of their current ability and the Caps play to the best of their current ability then the Caps win easily. They are much further ahead in terms of their experience, skill development and overall team make-up than we are. They are built to win now, we are built to win in 2-3 years.
The leafs are ahead of the timeline to get competitive but they are not currently in Washington's league:
1. Playoff experience (check how many playoff games the Caps players have been involved in versus the Leafs) it's something like 600+ games to 100+ games experience. That's huge
2. Dmen. Only 3 legit dmen Rielly (banged up), Gardiner and Zaitsev (banged up). Caps have a strong dmen corps (team allowed the least amount of goals all year).
3. Star power: Oshie/Backstrom/Ovie is as good a line as there is in the league. I like where our stars will be in 1-2 years but right now it's learning curve and kids have to become physically stronger (which they will). Their defense can shoot the puck hard (most of them); ours outside of Gardiner, don't. That's a big difference in my opinion
4. Men vs Boys in many cases. We have 7-8 rookies playing and some haven't fully developed physicall yet e.g. Marner.
4. Intangibles: Caps have experience, have known what it feels like to lose and to win already. Leafs are in unfamiliar territory; learning as they go with 7-8 rookies playing regular shifts
I love this team and we are going to be team to be reckon with as they grow and develop together. This is all gravy right now.
But then again................................you never know