The Tampa Bay Lightning are in town to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena.
This is an important game for the Maple Leafs as they have the chance to officially book their ticket to the playoffs.
If the Maple Leafs can earn just one point in their matchup against the Lightning, mathematically they won’t be able to fall out of a playoff spot.
This would be the eighth straight season where Toronto has made it to the playoffs. They share that feat with the Boston Bruins and are the two teams with the longest current streak.
By the looks of it in terms of the standings, Toronto will most likely face either the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs.
Long-time Leaf fans, Mateus Craveiro and Brian Cafe share their opinion on who they’d like to see the Maple Leafs face in the first round.
“I’d prefer to match up with the Florida Panthers in the playoffs just because I believe that history plays a huge part in the playoffs, especially mentally,” Cafe said.
He said this because, in recent history, the Maple Leafs have seen plenty of the Boston Bruins in post-season meetings. In their last seven playoff appearances, the Maple Leafs faced the Bruins three times and lost every series in seven games.
Craveiro said, “If I were to choose a team that I would like the Leafs to match up with in the playoffs it would have to be the Florida Panthers.”
He said that he feels like Toronto is also a little more familiar with Florida’s team since they faced them last season in the second round of the playoffs. Florida took that series in five games.
Last year was one to remember for Leaf fans, as team was able to pass the first round for the first time since 2004.
“It was honestly an amazing feeling once they finally got past the first round. I still remember watching the game and seeing Tavares turn around and just throw the puck on net and see it trickle in and just screaming and jumping off my couch,” Craveiro said.
He said he’s expecting similar results this year with the Leafs. “My prediction is they make it to the second round or the conference finals but there is some really tough teams in the way, that they will have to beat to get there,” Craveiro said
However, Cafe thinks that the team has what it takes to go all the way when it comes to the level of talent they have throughout the roster.
“I think with the skill the Leafs have on this team they should be able to win the Stanley Cup, but they must change their mentality and put their bodies on the line to win,” Cafe said.
Leaf fans will be hoping for superstar, Auston Matthews to continue his goal-scoring form going into the playoffs. He currently leads the league with 62 goals, the most in a season by a Maple Leaf.
“It’s crazy to think that he’s got a legit shot at beating Ovechkin and Gretzky’s most goals record if he keeps this up for majority of his career. He is the best thing that’s happened to this franchise in a long time,” Craveiro said.
“Matthews, this season has been incredible once again. He’ll end his career as one of the best goal-scorers of all time.” Cafe said
However, the job of clinching that playoff spot still needs to be taken care of and they have the chance to get it done tonight.