Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL Playoff Series Analysis and Predictions

1 of 9

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 04: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes the ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Scotiabank Arena on April 4, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t begin their playoff run until Thursday.

Even thought the Toronto Maple Leafs have to wait to begin their journey, the NHL does have five series beginning tomorrow.

I think the Leafs had some late season injury woes, and faced an inordinate amount of heroic goalies down the stretch, and so their recent record does not reflect their play.

People focus so much on their having a .500 record since Christmas that they seem to be forgetting that only six teams finished with more points than they did, and only three teams finished with more non-shoot-out wins.

The fact is the Toronto Maple Leafs played excellent hockey at times this year, and when they are on they are nearly unbeatable. Their down periods coincided with major injuries, and their record with just a little luck in one-goal games or on the power-play would have have been much better.

They’re probably the least respected 100 team I’ve ever seen, and so I think they’ll probably surprise a lot of people.

I’m calling the Toronto Maple Leafs to win in five. Here’s the rest of our picks.

Home/Maple Leafs News