PLAYOFF PREVIEW - ATLANTIC

Evan Davis & Jared Rotenberg

FLA - WSH

The last time the Florida Panthers won a playoff series was in the 1995-1996 season and I am confident that streak comes to an end this year. The lineup is as complete as can be, breaking the single season goal record as a team with a total of 340 during the regular season.

To break it down even more, the Panthers were scoring on average 4 goals a game. They are facing an opponent in Washington, who has had goaltending problems throughout the year and especially over these last 10 games. Now consistent goaltending play has been a concern for Florida, but they have been able to outscore their opponents at will and it leaves me with no concerns.

Even with elite veterans in Washington, I am taking the Florida Panthers to confidently sweep the Capitals. Guys like Huberdeau and Barkov will continue to step up in the playoffs for this team and they have an incredible top six. The Capitals defense is definitely solid, but Florida can outscore almost any opponent in these playoffs. I’ll go as far to even say each victory for the Panthers will be by two or more goals.

TOR - TB

For starters, let’s address the elephant in the room; I am a lifelong fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season, I watched with hopeful, glimmering eyes as the Maple Leafs took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens. But we all know what happened next.

Those eyes of joy quickly filled up with tears as the Leafs crumbled under the pressure of that lead and ultimately lost the series in 7 games.

Fast forward to this season, and the Toronto Maple Leaf’s next opportunity to avenge that horrible defeat has revealed itself in a terrifying tango with the back to back Stanley Cup Champions themselves, the Tampa Bay Lightning. In this series, the main point that must be discussed is the fact that the Leafs are entering this series as major underdog, despite what the standings may say.

Many reputable figures in the hockey community are predicting the Lightning to reign victorious, and to be honest, it is completely understandable why.

The Maple Leafs have struggled mightily in the playoffs, crumbling under pressure in dramatic fashion a plethora of times in recent memory, and failing to advance in the playoffs every year since 2004.

So with that, you may be wondering, “do you think this series will be a cakewalk for the heavily favourited Lightning?” Well, to that I would say not at all, actually.

Putting recent playoff success aside for just a moment, both teams are coming off of phenomenal regular seasons, and as well, both teams have been incredibly hot down the stretch towards the playoffs, with many similarities presenting themselves in terms of the skill that both teams possess.

The Leafs in particular just put up their best season in their lengthy 100+ year franchise history, as superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner both put up historic career years. The Leafs are entering the playoffs on a 3 game winning streak, and these two players will absolutely carry the pressure for the Leafs if they do infact hope to strike down on the Lightning.

Considering we struggled mightily down the stretch last season, with our scorching hot conclusion to the season in which many players are currently playing strong hockey, I do personally feel an immense amount of confidence with this group.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are an offensively gifted team, with depth all throughout their lineup. As well, with a strong defensive core that only was bolstered with the deadline addition of Mark Giordano, our team is not just a roster that even the back to back champions will able to walk all over.

However, in saying this, it is our goaltending that does lift the hairs on my head and leaves me somewhat uncertain to how we will fare this time around. Goaltender Jack Campbell has had a very up and down season, and despite currently being on fire in net, with 8 straight wins for the Leafs, he also has had unacceptable cold streaks and injury concerns throughout this season that do make it a major challenge to be too bullish on the Maple Leafs.

With the opposing goalie on the other end of the ice standing tall and mighty, greatness from Jack Campbell is an absolute necessity, and this is the only foreseeable way that I can see the Leafs stealing a series from the Lightning.

How about those Lightning on the other hand? Well, they check essentially all the boxes, even more so than this very talented Leafs roster. Tampa Bay utilizes phenomenal offensive firepower, headlined by superstars Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Brayden Point, amongst others.

On top of that, they have grit and a plethora of defensive forwards that can prove effective in shutting down the Maple Leafs offensive style of play. The Lightning also have one of the best defenseman in the entire NHL in 6’6” Victor Hedman, with a great defensive core surrounding him.

Last but certainly not least, with Andrei Vasilevskiy in the Tampa Bay Lightning net, arguably the best goalie in the National Hockey League, and a tried-and-true series stealer, I believe that him in the Tampa net will make taking down the Lightning an incredibly tough task for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For these reasons, despite the fact that I think it will be a close series that ultimately goes the distance, I have the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the series in Game 7. However, if the Leafs want to prove me wrong, I more than welcome that.