BY NICHOLAS CARAFA – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
It almost feels surreal. But finally, the nightmare is over and the Toronto Maple Leafs have made the playoffs. Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul scored four minutes apart to secure a 4-1 win over their provincial rivals in Ottawa Saturday night and help the Leafs book their first ticket to the playoffs since 2004.
The most likely of matchups in the first round seem to be the Boston Bruins or Montreal Canadiens, and both teams aren’t finishing off the season too convincingly. There’s talk about the Leafs possibly grabbing the second seed in the East, but it’s going to take a lot of luck and won’t happen.
Whoever the Blue and White play in the first round, enjoy it Leafs fans because we clearly took the playoffs for granted in the early 2000s when Curtis Joseph stood on his head most nights. Of course we’d all like them to win a round, and if they play the Canadiens, it’s definitely possible for them to come out on top.
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If a fan is expecting them to win the Stanley Cup, they’re going to have to lower their expectations just a tad. Yes anything can happen come playoff time, but this year’s run should be used more as an opportunity to gain some valuable playoff experience. It’s an opportunity for the team’s core players to grow together and understand the hardships that must be overcome to win 16 games.
Whatever the outcome of this year’s playoff run, enjoy it Leafs fans because we all know too well what the pain of missing the playoffs feel like. It seems like the team Brian Burke and Dave Nonis have assembled is one where another eight-year playoff drought is a thing of the past, but the magic of playoff hockey is something special, and nothing rallies the boys more than a city engulfed by excitement and passion.
Get your game-day rituals ready, put flags on your car and paint your face. Let’s show the Leafs how much we’ve truly missed playoff hockey Toronto, because it’s back in full force.