Toronto Maple Leafs' Road to the Top of the Atlantic Division Has Been Revealed
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs can do something they haven't done in a quarter-century if they are able to secure a victory on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres.
It's been long since the days of Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts, Curtis Joseph and Pat Quinn leading the Maple Leafs to the top of the Northeast Division. 25 years since their previous reign as division champs, they haven't had that much success atop the standings minus the 2020 COVID shortened season which really doesn't count.
The current crop of players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Anthony Stolarz and more; all helmed by first year head coach Craig Berube who has the most wins ever by a first year Maple Leafs bench boss.
It's a recipe for success that has led the team to rise up the ranks and show they really could be a Stanley Cup winner.
They already have a playoff berth and the home-ice advantage come the first round, but one more goal still remains: Winning the division.
Well, they have a chance to do so on Tuesday night, as a victory over the Buffalo Sabres would give the Maple Leafs the Atlantic with one game left to play.
Toronto can also rely on Tampa Bay losing one point with an OT or shootout loss against Florida, so it looks like being champions is a very good possibility.
Unless something drastic happens it looks like Toronto will end up playing the Ottawa Senators in the first round, which is ideally the preferred matchup compared to facing Florida and could give the Maple Leafs a huge advantage heading into the second round if they can score a quick series win.
Letting the two Sunshine State teams beat up on each other for potentially seven games can only mean good things for the Maple Leafs heading into round two, and if they can get healthy (and stay that way), that Atlantic Division title can't be looked at as just a fluke.
If Toronto can't take advantage however, they could be in big trouble especially if they have to face a Florida Panthers team that not only haswill likely field a fully healthy and available lineuplikely field a fully healthy and available lineup including Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad; so things won't be any easier going forward.
It's 25 years in the making however, and while Toronto has always been a team that can overpower their opponents in the regular season, their approach to the playoffs has been less than stellar.
But a new playing style, a revamped roster, and a motivated team sounds like the perfect recipe for a successful postseason push.
Let's just hope there aren't too many cooks in the kitchen messing with what's worked.