Expect Toronto Maple Leafs vs Lightning Rematch to Be Amazing

History is repeating itself this postseason, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning are all but guaranteed to play each other in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Lightning put on one of the most entertaining series in the entirety of the 2022 playoffs.

5 out of the 7 games played featured at least 7 goals scored, and games 6 and 7 were nail-biters decided by one goal apiece,

Expect a similar series this year, with both teams currently only separated by 5 points in the standings. 

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning: The Rematch

Both teams also boast some of the top offensive players in the league, with the Leafs forward group consisting of Auston Matthews, last season’s Hart Trophy and Rocket Richard winner, Mitch Marner, who’s a perennial top-10 scorer in the league, and point-per-game players William Nylander and John Tavares.

The Lightning have a star-studded forward lineup of their own, with former Rocket Richard winner Steven Stamkos at the helm, 2019 Hart and Art Ross trophy winner Nikita Kucherov, and the criminally underrated Brayden Point.

Both of these teams have some of the deepest forward groups in the entire league and both squads added to that depth at the trade deadline.

Toronto and Tampa both kept their cores intact but added grit and toughness to their bottom six. The Leafs and Lightning’s forward groups are both built fairly similarly, both feature some of the top offensive players at the top, with a mix of speedy and physical players at the bottom.

Both teams also rank in the top 10 in the NHL in goals scored and goal differential.

There are roughly 11 games remaining in this NHL season, the Atlantic division is looking as competitive as ever. And with the Boston Bruins having one of the best NHL seasons of all time, the NHL playoffs are bound to be one of the most competitive postseasons in recent memory.

When it comes to the Leafs and Lightning, I expect a close series that comes down to the wire, much like last year. I think both teams are contenders for the Stanley Cup, but if any of these teams want to win, they’ll need both their stars and their depth players to deliver. Especially the Leafs, as fans, staff, and players are tired of coming up short in the playoffs.