No more games to play, only wars to win. This is the only time there has ever been and if our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs do not seize this moment then it will disappear forever. Dracula’s castle only appears in the living world every hundred years and the year is almost over. The last few months had blurred into something of a routine for the Toronto Maple Leafs but suddenly and predictably the intensity of the undead assault on Toronto increased with springs bitterly cold arrival. The Maple Leafs thought they were prepared, they were not.

For the first time Dracula unleashed the full power of his nightmare host. In the initial chaos Nazem Kadri had been lost, his fate uncertain. The team had been sent reeling back to Toronto Maple Leaf Tower. Things were looking bleak but the tide had started to turn. Patrick Marleau had a hidden power of his own to unleash. As a werewolf he had torn through Dracula’s skeletal horde, indeed even the most ancient of terrors had run from Partick once his Lycan form had taken over. Slowly the Leafs won back the city streets, the undead now wait for them. Destiny is calling.

The Maple Leafs stand arrayed for battle before the silent gates of Dracula’s Castlevania. Even the moon is tense, it is a pale and an eerie light that shines down on the team. Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly stand a few paces ahead of the group. After seventy-five seconds pass without a slobbering horde of zombies attacking Auston looks back at his team and shrugs.

“I guess we could try knocking?” Auston suggests.

“I’ll knock.” Ron Hainsey says.

The veteran defenseman steps forward with a Toronto Maple Leaf fully automatic rocket powered grenade launcher on his shoulder. As one of only two non super-powered Maple Leafs Ron relies on his love of gunpowder to get him through most situations. With no better plan, Morgan and Auston step aside and let him do his thing. Ron unloads a full magazine (a dozen rocket powered grenades) at the castle gate. The dust clears revealing shattered remnants.

Before the Leafs can cheer a tremendous roar pummels the night and an enormous dire bear steps over the wreckage. The monster doesn’t hesitate but charges directly at the Leafs.

“Mine!” Shouts Freddy Andersen. “Mine, mine, mine.” The goalie is grinning wildly as he runs towards the ursine behemoth. When they are thirty feet apart Freddy starts to weave his fingers. At twenty feet  magic is spilling out of Freddy and reaching out for the bear. At ten feet Freddy strolls casually towards the completely ensnared monster and with a snap of his fingers the beast is torn to shreds. The way is clear before the Leafs.

Auston turns towards his team. “Alright boys, It’s time to get serious.”

“It’s way past that time.” Mitch Marner whispers but every Leaf hears him. Ever Leaf nods. With grim purpose and unshakable faith they move torward their fate. It will only get harder with every step, which only makes the glory sweeter.

Go Leafs Go. Go Leafs Go. Go Leafs Go.