Auston Matthews' 'stache says no.

Sorry

Matched up with back 2 back Champs, first round. Tough draw.

On a related note, I find it to be quite telling that we've had multiple threads about hockey over the past few weeks but not a single thread about baseball. I don't want to highjack this thread so I'll start my own in a few minutes.

I'll talk baseball.

Tampa is one of those teams that is still very dangerous come playoff times. Like what Pittsburgh is, or was. There really isn't a good first round draw this year, especially in the East. I would love to see the Leafs knock out the Bolts, but I don't think it will happen. The best thing the Leafs can do, is stay out of the penalty box because Tampa's power play is deadly. The problem is Tampa is very good at those little dirty plays that don't get called in the playoffs. After a couple of games, the Leafs may lose their cool and start taking retaliatory penalties. Everyone knows, the refs never see the guy who started it, but they also see the guy who hit back.

I say it's a Florida vs. Colorado final. My pick is Florida for the championship.

Finally MN has a good team that has a chance of beating anyone else in the playoffs....except STL, their opponent in the first round. Should be some close and fun matches, but I predict STL wins in 5. Everyone around here is excited for the playoffs, but MN has an abysmal record against them over the last few seasons.

Should be some close and fun matches, but I predict STL wins in 5.

The Wild has looked pretty good the last few months.

The Blues/Wild series poses all sorts of interesting possibilities. One team has a few elite goal scorers combined with a good defense and elite goal tending, while the other has a bunch of goal scorers sprinkled throughout the lines combined with a solid, but shakier defense and, at times, leaky goal tending. If Minn can avoid the penalty box, they have a good chance. I rate this one as too close to call, with either team winning in 7.

Although it's a pity that one of these very good teams will be eliminated, I don't see either of them having much of a chance against Colorado in the second round.

The Leafs have the #1 powerplay. They also led he league in shorthanded goals.
Jack Campbell is the key factor imo.
It's going to be a war. This Toronto team has some grit. I think Matthews is on a mission. He finally showed emotion this year. I've been waiting so long for him to get pissed off, and show it. He finally has.

I've adopted the Leafs as my official eastern conference team for this year. How many years has it been since they were in the Finals?

1967.......3 months before I was born. Loooong time.

Sorry WT, again not this year.

They got a ticket to the dance. Anything is possible.

I think Tampa, Carolina, and Florida are the beasts in the East this year. I wonder what the Leafs regular season record is against those teams. Don't get me wrong, I am rooting for the Leafs.They have always been liked in the Detroit area, even though we don't show it sometime. lol. My team I followed this year is the Rangers. I would love to see them make a cinderella run, but I am not getting my hopes up.

1967 I remember it VERY well ...GO LEAFS !!

My Mom just texted me. Saying the Leafs won the Cup this date, May 2nd 1967.
I'm taking it as a sign. She remembers it as well.

Wow. The playoffs ended in 1967 the same day as they are starting 2022. I'd say the league has grown. Are we going to be watching the final game at our Fourth of July parties this year?

The league doubled in size to 12 teams for the 1967–68 season.

So the last time the Leafs won is when there was only 6 teams.

There was a 2 week gap built into this season. They were suppose to go to the Olympics. But the break was used to make up for postponed games due to covid. More games were added at the end of the season because of covid as well.