4 Key Factors in the Maple Leafs Upsetting the Bruins

Another regular season has come and gone for this Toronto Maple Leafs team. This year the Leafs finished with a 46-26-10 record which gives them 102 points and third in the Atlantic division. (Standings stats from NHL.com)

What looked like a pretty certain playoff match-up of the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Panthers flipped on the second last game of the season for the Leafs after blowing a two-goal lead against Florida.

With Boston losing their last two games against Washington and Ottawa it gives us this matchup against who is seen as the boogeyman to this franchise.

The Leafs aren't the favourites going into this series, which if we're being honest doesn't matter a whole lot to this team.

The playoff success has been non-existent regardless if they're the favourites heading into the series or the underdog.

The Leafs beat the Lightning for their first series win since 2004 last season. Although they were outplayed, they got the job done. So heading into this series how can the Leafs get the job done against this Bruins team?

4 Key Factors in the Maple Leafs Upsetting the Bruins

Special Teams

It seems as though every year the Maple Leafs power play goes ice cold when the playoffs come around.

This year the power play has been very hot and cold and at the time I'm writing this, they are currently seventh in the league in powerplay percentage. If the Leafs are going to have a chance to win this series it is crucial that this power play can figure it out in the playoffs.

The penalty kill has been incredibly concerning this season. The Leafs finished the season with a 76.9 percent penalty kill percentage which ranks them tied for 22nd in the league.

The penalty kill is crucial in the regular season but even more so in the playoffs, the struggles this team has faced so far this year are concerning.(All special teams stats from ESPN.com)