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Toronto Maple Leafs: Round 1 Eastern Conference NHL Playoff Predictions

By James Tanner

Nov 21, 2021; Elmont, New York, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) talks with Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the first period against New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Elmont, New York, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) talks with Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the first period against New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 7, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16) celebrates his game tying goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16)  . Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Maple Leafs finished a solid fourth overall and will begin the playoffs against Tampa Bay.

Though the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to clinch home-ice advantage, the reward of a date with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions for a 54 win, 115 franchise record season is a bit of a joke, but what can you do?

The first round of the NHL playoffs is the best time of the season, as there is usually double-headers every night for two weeks.

With the amount of good teams in the NHL being disproportionally allocated to the Eastern Conference this season, there are some very interesting matchups, and it’s not just the Leafs who were screwed over by the NHL’s divisional seeding.

This is the first time ever that even the eigth seed has 100 points, so the Panthers, who won the President’s Trophy as the NHL’s best team, don’t even really get an easy matchup – they get the Washington Capitals.

And Carolina’s reward of the 107 point Boston Bruins seems as preposterous as the Leafs haveing to face Tampa.

Though this means that great teams will be eliminated in the first round, it also means we are guaranteed some amazing series.  On with the predictions.

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