Buckle up Toronto Maple Leafs fans because we may be in for another Boston Bruins playoff series.
Superman has kryptonite and the Toronto Maple Leafs have the Boston Bruins. For whatever reason, they just can’t seem to get by them in a playoff series.
Well, I guess the same can be said for every other franchise they’ve played in the playoffs since 2004, because they haven’t won a post-season series in 18 years. Congrats to the Leafs playoff draught, you’re almost legal to drink!
Anyways, the Leafs are having one of their most magical regular seasons of all-time. Despite the success, they could end up facing their old foe, Boston Bruins, in the First Round of the playoffs once again.
Boston is currently tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning, with 93 points. Tampa has one game in-hand, but the Bruins are 7-3 in their last 10 and are playing at a better pace than the Lightning.
If things go the way they’re trending, the First Round of the playoffs could look something like this:
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
- Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Battle of Florida and a Leafs vs. Bruins series would be unbelievable theatre, but are you mentally prepared for this as a Toronto fan?
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Playoff Match-Up Would Be Crazy
The past Leafs vs. Bruins playoff series have all ended the same way: Boston defeating Toronto on home-ice in seven games.
The most famous loss happened in 2013 when the Leafs blew a 4-1 lead and ultimately lost in overtime, but we don’t need to revisit that game right now. But if you’d like to, read this.
The playoff series’ between Toronto and Boston have been fantastic, but the Bruins always win at home when it means the most.
However, things could look different this year.
As it currently stands, Toronto would more than likely have home-ice advantage, which is a big deal. The Leafs haven’t had a full-building on their side for a Game 7 during the Auston Matthews Era, so that extra buzz in the building could be all they need to finally get best their enemy.
The Bruins core of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are still in-tact, while goaltender Jeremy Swayman has been a surprise talent for the team thus far. Despite having some familiar faces, this team isn’t as scary as they once were a few years ago,.
However, psychologically, Boston may still have the advantage.
In order to get past your fears, you have to face them head-on, so as scary as another Boston series may be, I think it’ll be the best thing that could happen to the Leafs right now.
If they can get past the Bruins in a playoff series, there’s no stopping what they can do, and if they show that they’re still not ready to take the next step, while then, some big changes need to happen.