Top 5 Most Exciting Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Matchups
Despite being one of the shortest seasons in Toronto Maple Leafs history, it’s felt long, as there’s been so much anticipation for the playoffs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs most important strategy for the next two weeks is to stay healthy. They need to continue to rest and prepare for the playoffs so that they can give their best effort when the games start to truly matter.
This isn’t new news for anyone, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have not won a playoff series since 2004. It’s crazy to think that the hockey mecca of the universe has been so unsuccessful in recent history.
This is how long ago 2004 was: The Boston Red Sox broke their 86-year World Series curse, George W. Bush started his second-term as President and Martha Stewart went to jail for insider trading.
Since then, the Red Sox have won four World Series’, and Stewart is back on TV and is worth over $600M. Time changes quickly, but the Leafs losing in the playoffs is one thing that’s continued to stay constant.
This year should be different, though. Toronto is the favorite to win the North Division and is a well-balanced juggernaut. Their goaltending is stronger than ever and Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, on their own, could win them a playoff series.
If Toronto falls in the first round this year, it would be an utter collapse and changes should be made immediately. However, until that happens, there should be a ton of excitement around the the potential playoff matchups.
As such, here are the top five potential Toronto Maple Leafs playoff matchups.
No. 5: Colorado Avalanche
This series would be incredible theatre for a number of reasons, but the battle between both team’s top-line’s would be fantastic to watch.
When you think of the best lines in hockey, the trio of Zach Hyman, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner come to mind right away, but it may not be the best. In fact, the top-line in Colorado could be better.
The trio of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are all on an 82-game pace of 30-40 goals and 80-100 points and compliment each other perfectly. Landeskog can score, but also play physical, while MacKinnon and Rantanen’s speed and skill make them almost impossible to stop.
Watching those top two lines battle each other would be hockey at it’s finest.
However, the biggest reason why we’d all love to see this is the return of Nazem Kadri.
Kadri’s game is best suited in the playoffs. His energy is dialed up and his ability to be a pest is why Toronto fell in love with him, in the first place. However, fans will always be disappointed in him that he got suspended in back-to-back playoffs, which changed the landscape of both series’.
Watching Kadri intimidate his former team would be great to watch, as you know he’d have even more motivation to perform at his best.
No. 4: Edmonton Oilers
Auston Matthews vs. Connor McDavid is must-watch hockey anytime they play.
Both players are going to be nominated for the Hart Trophy this year, so watching the two best players in the NHL play against each other in the playoffs is rare.
The only reason why this isn’t lower on the list is because we’ve already seen them play nine times this year. The excitement is still there, but when you’ve seen this team so many times, it lessens the anticipation.
Although these teams have played each other so many times, watching Matthews and McDavid in a seven-game series would be amazing. After training with each other in the summer, and battling it out for the Hart Trophy, the intensity would be through the roof.
The rivalry of Matthews vs. McDavid could very well be our modern-day version of Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin, so being able to see these two superstars play their heart out in order to get a win for their struggling franchises is can’t miss TV.
No. 3: New York Islanders
If you thought it was an ugly scene for John Tavares when he returned to Long Island for a regular season game, just imagine the chaos during a playoff series?
In order for the Islanders to face Toronto, it would have to take place in the Semi-Finals or Stanley Cup Finals. If the Leafs and Islanders somehow face off in the Stanley Cup Finals, New York would explode. Regardless of the pandemic, they would pack that building 20,000 strong, making sure every fan yelled at Tavares for leaving.
The Islanders are a very good team and are hard to play against. Pair that with the Tavares storyline and Toronto could struggle in that series.
Things wouldn’t get as heated as they did in the early 2000s when the Islanders and Leafs faced off against each other in the playoffs, but it would be a very hostile environment in New York.
Even if it’s a struggle and things get heated, the No. 1 reason why I want to see this matchup is for this scenario:
The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup on the road in New York and captain John Tavares is the first person to lift the cup. After fans turned on Tavares like a comic-book super villain and treated him awful for leaving, Tavares gets his revenge by winning the cup in the place he used to call home.
Can you imagine how heart-breaking that would be for Islanders fans?
Give me that drama every day of the week.
No. 2: Montreal Canadiens
Toronto may have faced the Canadiens 20 times in the past week, but it’s always exciting when these two markets face off against each other.
It’s funny that Toronto vs. Montreal is one of hockey’s biggest rivalries, yet they haven’t played each other in the playoffs since 1979. Although they play in the same division and conference, they’ve somehow yet to meet in the playoffs in over 40 years, which is bizarre.
All signs point to the Leafs facing the Canadiens in the first round so that streak should finally end, unless something crazy happens between now and then.
Toronto is clearly the better team but anything can happen in the playoffs. The Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins last post-season, when they weren’t expected to. Goaltender Carey Price stood on his head and could very well do the same against the Leafs.
A lot has changed since these two teams last played each other in the playoffs, but the rivalry and excitement has stayed the same.
After a tough year dealing with a pandemic, there should be some joy from it, as we’ll more than likely get to see the Habs face the Leafs in a seven game playoff series.
No. 1: Boston Bruins
I’m sure 99.9 percent of the Toronto Maple Leafs fanbase would hate to see the Boston Bruins in the playoffs this year, but from an entertainment perspective, this would be amazing.
Over the past decade, Boston has defeated Toronto in three consecutive Game 7’s, most notably in 2013 when they came back from 4-1 in the third period. In terms of a true rival, Boston could be Toronto’s biggest rival, based on the recent playoff history between these two teams.
Instead of a first round matchup, Toronto vs. Boston could be a Semi Final or Stanley Cup Final series. Can you imagine Toronto vs. Boston in the Stanley Cup Finals? I’m nervous just thinking about it.
After winning three consecutive series and finally reaching a cup final for the first time since 1967, it would be classic Leafs to have to face the team that’s been their Achilles heel for the past decade. With so much drama and built-up frustration over the years, it would only be fitting for Toronto to have to defeat Boston to finally win a Stanley Cup.
Like in any video game, Boston would be that “Final Boss” that Toronto must defeat in order to win the game.
If Toronto made it all the way to the finals and lost to Boston, the city may riot. However, if they defeated them and finally won a Stanley Cup, it could be the biggest party of our lifetime.
Next. 3 Reasons Why Leafs Will Win Stanley Cup. dark
Either way, Toronto vs. Boston would be an amazing playoff series and something we should all hope for.