As we continue to make predictions for each playoff series, I believe the Toronto Maple Leafs will defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Toronto hasn’t won a postseason series since 2004, as we all well know. I know jokes are funny. If somehow Toronto fails to make it out of the first round again, I suspect there will be big changes to come.
Before the deadline, Kyle Dubas did everything right. Trade futures that Toronto didn’t need in order to add depth on offense and defense in the form of Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Accari, Sam Laverty, Jake McCabe, Luke Shane and newly signed Matthew Kniss. Besides, Marner had a season with nearly 100 points, Nylander and Matthews each scored over 40, and John Tavares puts up the numbers.
The Tampa Bay offense shouldn’t be left out either. Brayden Point scored 50+, Steven Stamkos averaged more than a point a game, and Nikita Kucherov produced the lowest 110+ point season ever.
I simply think that Toronto’s depth is better than Tampa Bay’s overall. The Lightning also experienced bouts of extreme inconsistency over the course of the season; They are 4-6 in their last ten games and 11-18 overall since February 15, while Toronto is 7-3 in their last ten contests (just one loss in regulation).
I also appreciate Toronto’s depth in the net this season. Ilya Samsonov is consistently ranked among the top ten goalkeepers, Matt Murray has won the Cup twice, and Josef Wall hasn’t played a single game all season with a save percentage of less than 0.900. We all know Andrei Vasilevskiy is a playoff machine, but Toronto seemed to have exposed him in last year’s playoff series between the two clubs.
This season, Toronto has a 2-1 record versus Tampa Bay.
It will be another fun experience, and I anticipate first round exit comments, I don’t blame you, but I have a hard time imagining Toronto in another first round exit this year.
Predicting the Final Series: Leaves in 6 matches over the Lightning