When do the NHL Playoffs Start?

With the All-Star Break now over and the trade deadline approaching, the race for the NHL Playoffs has taken hold. While we are still in the early stages, teams like the Maple Leafs hold a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and they would like to keep it that way. 

They have 34 more games to hold off some surging teams in the Atlantic Division and the East. If they can stay consistent and avoid injury, Toronto should once again find themselves in the postseason. 

When will the 2024 NHL Playoffs begin?

In 2024, the playoffs begin on Monday, April 20th, and the last possible day, if necessary, is Monday, June 24th. The Maple Leafs will look to advance further than they did last postseason, but to their credit, they managed to end their two-decade drought of not winning a playoff series after they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two. 

To reach the 2024 NHL Playoffs, the Maple Leafs must…

Consistency is key with the Maple Leafs, and it’s something they have shown us throughout most of the season. Sure, they had a turbulent stretch in December, but other than that, they have been one of the NHL’s most consistent teams, and it’s all they need to at least clinch a wild card spot. 

Recent history of the Maple Leafs in the NHL Playoffs

After missing the playoffs for seven seasons in a row following the 2004-05 NHL Lockout, the Maple Leafs appeared in the shortened 2012-13 season, losing in seven games to the Boston Bruins in the Conference Quarterfinals. They didn’t make another appearance until the 2016-17 season and have since made annual trips. 

Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs couldn’t get past the first round until last year when they won in six games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. For 2023-24, they will look to parlay their success in last year’s postseason run to the Eastern Conference Finals and serious contention for the Stanley Cup.