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Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL Playoff Series Analysis and Predictions

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 12: Toronto Maple Leafs logo pictured at centre ice at the Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 12: Toronto Maple Leafs logo pictured at centre ice at the Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – MARCH 20: Tampa Bay Lightning defender Victor Hedman (77) and Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Andreas Johnsson (18) battle for a puck as Toronto Maple Leafs center Patrick Marleau (12) looks on during the third period of an NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 20, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The Lightning scored three goals in the third period to defeat the Maple Leafs 4-3. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Tampa vs Columbus

The Lightning finished a absolutely crazy 21 points ahead of the second place team.  It obviously takes a lot of luck to finish that high, but the Lightning are still the NHL’s best team.

I thought for a long time the Toronto Maple Leafs could catch and overtake them, but it just never happened.  That said, a lot of things have to go right to get that many points, and I think the Leafs are a lot closer to Tampa than the record would indicate.

As for Columbus, they went all-in at the deadline and acquired both Ryan Dzingle and Matt Duchene, to go along with what was already a very good roster.

Sergei Bobrvosky is just too good a goalie to never win a playoff series, and Artemi Panarin is one of the best players in the NHL.

As I mentioned earlier, I am predicting an upset here.

I will say Tampa loses in seven games, which will make the Toronto Maple Leafs path to the Stanley Cup Final much easier.

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