Playoff Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning
THE PLAYOFFS ARE HEREEEEEEEE! Here at Beyond Center Ice, we will be looking at every single playoff series to preview it, and review it when each series is done. Our first series will be one that has been decided for a while: the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning. Last season, we got this matchup too. The Tampa Bay Lightning came back down 3-2 in the series and won in 7 in their eventual run to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance for their 3rd straight season. As for their Leafs, as you likely know, they have lost in the first round for 7 straight seasons and haven't made it to Round 2 or farther since 2004. For the Leafs, this is do or die. Let's take a look at some key stats/players from each team and then reach a verdict on who will be the winner and in how many games it will take. The Maple Leafs finished the season 50-21-11, tallying 111 points and finishing 4th in the entire NHL. They were expected to be in the playoffs from the start, and they delivered wit...