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The Toronto Maple Leafs Playoffs Matchup if the Season Ended Today

By Jeff Borsuk

TORONTO, ON - MAY 10 : Warm up pucks hit the ice prior to action between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Five of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 10, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Lightning 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 10 : Warm up pucks hit the ice prior to action between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Five of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 10, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Lightning 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images) /
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William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs shoots past the defense of Erik Cernak #81 of the Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the  Atlantic Division

The team that the Maple Leafs helplessly watched celebrate clinching their berth into the second-round last year is currently  slated to see them in the opening round once again. The Tampa Bay Lightning crushed the Maple Leafs dreams last season but this time, Toronto will be out for revenge.

The Leafs biggest roadblock will be stopper Andrei Vasilevskiy. He can always give his team a chance by keeping games within reach even with the immense fire power the Maple Leafs have proven they carry this season.

This series has the makings to go seven-games just like it did in their 2022 matchup. There is plenty of skill on both teams but this time, the Leafs will need to want it more.

For Toronto, beating the Bolts is secondary to the ultimate reason they need four wins in the first-round. The Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. That’s all the motivation they need to try and flip the tables on last year’s Stanley Cup runners-up.

The other Atlantic team in the playoffs is the division leader, the Boston Bruins. They’re currently looking at going head-to-head with the New York Islanders. Boston has been an unstoppable force this season which would present an enormous problem to the Islanders.

David Pastrnak has been outstanding for the Bruins. Through his first 28 games, he recorded 19 goals and 20 assists for a total of 39 points. If Pasta can keep rolling this way through the regular season and into the playoffs, it makes the Bruins an even more difficult out.

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