The Toronto Maple Leafs Playoffs Matchup if the Season Ended Today
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.
Pacific Division
In what could be the best series in the opening round, the Vegas Golden Knights are currently slated to face the Edmonton Oilers. These would be must watch games with the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Jack Eichel all competing each night. Add Jonathan Marchessault for good measure into the mix just to see him rip some shots.
The Oilers have obvious flaws to their game. Luckily for Coach Jay Woodcroft, they have some time before the post season begins to figure out how to spread their offensive production and more importantly, how to fortify their back end. The Oilers need goaltending as Jack Campbell has been a bust, setting the Oilers back and seeing them struggle between the pipes just like they’ve experienced in previous seasons.
The NHL latest entry, the Seattle Kraken have made big strides since their inaugural season last year. They now appear poised to not just enter the post season for the first time, but even win a round. If the season were to end today, it would be up to the Los Angeles Kings tasked with slowing them down.
The Kings came out of the gate firing on all cylinders this season but have recently stumbled significantly. They have won four of their last thirteen games. If Los Angeles continues at that pace, they may find themselves outside the playoff picture looking in. However, if LA is the team that the Kraken lines up to face for their first post season puck drop, Seattle could be licking their chops.
The Leaders of the Central Division are the Dallas Stars.
They have been fantastic, thanks in great part to the production of the Leafs left-winger Nick Robertson’s big brother, Jason Robertson. He has proven himself to be a legitimate goal scorer, notching 23 in his first 30 games. That’s gone along with 20 assists, giving the Stars top left-winger a total of 43 points.
After an excellent 2021-22 campaign, Roope Hintz is proving that his previous production isn’t a fluke. He’s been great once again for Dallas, giving his club an added lift. They’ll need his offense if they continue on their current trajectory, which would see them clash with the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs have been plagued by injuries this season, which has not allowed them to look anything like the threat they were this time last year. Losing former Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri to free agency has also been a big loss to the franchise. However, if Colorado can get healthy heading into the playoffs, they could be dangerous once again.
If the season were to end today, the final first round battle would be between the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild. This could easily turn into a seven-game series, with either team coming out victorious in the end. It’s a coin flip series.
The Maple Leafs may be currently aligned to meet the Lightning but a lot can change between now and the end of the season. To get a sense as to whether there will be much movement, it’s helpful to analyze the math provided by Playoff Status.
The best case scenario for Toronto is for them to finish at the top of the Atlantic Division. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are just 16-per cent. The Bruins look like they own that spot with an overwhelming 76-per cent chance of capturing it.
Expect the Leafs to finish in their current position, second in the Atlantic. The math says that they have a 42-per cent chance of staying there. The next most likely finishing position is third in the division, for which they have a 24-per cent chance.
The numbers point to it once again being Toronto going head-to-head with Tampa. In fact, there is a 38-per cent chance that that comes to fruition. Not only does that appear to be the clash the Leafs should prepare themselves for but they can expect to do so with a home team advantage.
If somehow the numbers are wrong and it isn’t the Bolts coming to the Big Smoke to open the playoffs, the Leafs could meet Boston. The B’s have the second greatest odds to play the Leafs in Round 1. Those come in at 10-per cent. With the way that Boston has been playing this season, the Leafs will be in no rush to meet them in the post season.
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No matter who the Maple Leafs draw in the first round, there will be a lot of pressure on the organization to be victorious. After many years of heartbreak, hopefully, this will be the Leafs year.