This intense battle for the Atlantic Division crown is the best thing that has ever happened to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For the past nine years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been playoff-bound, but other than when they won the all Canadian division during Covid, they haven't ever won their division.
Typically this is how the Leafs season goes. Toronto has a strong start to the regular season, is way too far away from catching Tampa Bay, Boston or Florida and then coasts into the playoffs with either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, having essentially clinched that middle-spot as far back as February.
It's nice to know that you're going to play in the playoffs, so you can rest, but everyone knows this doesn't lead to playoff success. There's a reason why the President's Trophy team rarely wins the Stanley Cup because there is no adversity down the stretch. When you play with a lack of intensity for two months before the playoffs start, it's tough to turn that switch on and be ready for Game 1, especially when you're playing against teams who have been playing for their lives for multiple weeks.
Although the Leafs are essentially guranteed a playoff spot right now, their tight battle with the Panthers and Lightning down the stretch is exactly what they need. The Auston Matthews Era team has never won the Atlantic Division, so playing for that is a huge incentive for them and having to play Florida and Tampa a total of three times in the next four games will be a big test ahead of the playoffs.
As someone who's followed this team closely for the last three decades, this season does feel different and the advesity could be a huge benefit. The last time that they faced this type of adversity with only a few games left was the first Auston Matthews season.
Atlantic Division battle will guide Toronto Maple Leafs to long playoff run
Toronto hadn't made the playoffs for multiple seasons back in 2017 but clinched a spot in Game 81, gaining the second Wild Card berth. They lost to the Washington Capitals 4-2 in the First Round, but every game was a one-goal game and five of the six went to overtime. It was such an even battle, which the oddmakers never would have guessed.
The Capitals were the best team in the Eastern Conference, while Toronto was the worst, but that adversity down the stretch really helped make it a tighter series than expected.
It may not be the same situation this year, but as shown by that example, you want to be playing meaningful hockey before the playoffs start because it will only benefit you in the future. The Leafs need to have confidence and winning the Atlantic Division will do them wonders, so let's hope they can keep the momentum going in the next nine games.
In my opinion, the playoffs start Wednesday against the Florida Panthers and that game will be a big indiciation on what to expect when the postseason truly starts in two weeks.