Toronto maple leafs playoff history9/18/2023 ![]() ![]() It was the sixth consecutive season to end with a series loss in the first round for the Maple Leafs. In that series the Lightning scored a goal in overtime to win game six and eliminated Toronto with a 2-1 win in Game 7. Last year the Lightning rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win the best-of-seven series four games to three. But if he can’t, and he proves to be more the mortal, beatable goalie he was at times this regular season - rather than the impenetrable brick wall he was in the Lightning’s two Stanley Cup runs - then the Maple Leafs could finally get the playoff series win they’ve been waiting for.The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive year. If Vasilevskiy can make scoring goals feel impossible in the most important moments - just as Carey Price did for the Canadiens in 2021 - then Tampa will once again triumph. The Maple Leafs have a lethal set of forwards and impressive depth. For Tampa, the main question will be if the team will be able to once again count on playoff brilliance from Andrei Vasilevskiy after a regular season that was - while strong - not the dominant year many might have expected from him. For Toronto, the question is whether Samsonov’s regular season success will translate to the playoffs, where he has been shaky in the past. Just like it is for Toronto, a major storyline for the Lightning is goaltending, only for different reasons. That year-to-year playoff consistency is what makes them such a daunting first-round opponent despite their relatively inconsistent regular season. They created a blueprint for themselves to follow in that series, just as they have done for the numerous teams they have eliminated over the past three seasons. The main factor Tampa has going for them? They were in this exact position one year ago and found a way to fend off Toronto in a grueling series. If Matt Murray clears concussion protocol and can provide an experienced relief option, that’s a bonus.įor Tampa Bay, this series represents the start of what the team hopes will be another deep playoff run, one that results in the franchise’s third Stanley Cup championship in four years. The chances of the 24-year-old seeing playoff action are greater than zero, especially given Samsonov’s brief and shaky playoff history with the Washington Capitals. In his place, rookie Joseph Woll has posted spectacular numbers in limited action (6-1-0. While Ilya Samsonov is still expected to start after his breakout campaign, he has missed the last two games with minor injuries. The other is goal-tending - and the potential for a surprise Game 1 starter. Combined with his winning pedigree and playoff experience, O'Reilly is one of two main x-factors for Toronto in this matchup. He has seemingly recaptured some offensive confidence despite decreased ice time, registering 11 points in 13 games since the trade and six points in five games since returning from a hand injury that kept him sidelined for most of March. But Toronto’s acquisition of Ryan O’Reilly before the trade deadline should not be overlooked as a potential antidote to their offensive woes. The bulk of the pressure will again rest on the core four of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander to keep up their production as the series progresses. Offense evaporating at crucial times has kept the Maple Leafs from deep playoff runs. In the 2020 Qualifying Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they were shut out in the deciding Game 5. In 2021, Montreal held the Maple Leafs to three goals in the final two games. ![]() In last season’s loss to the Lightning, Tampa held Toronto to four goals in Games 6 and 7. ![]()
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