Approaching Playoffs, Leafs are confident, pumped up!

When the Toronto Maple Leafs punched their playoff ticket with a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday evening, they still weren’t sure who they’d face in their first round playoff series. Just 24 hours later their fate is sealed and it’s a doozy. The Leafs will take on the President’s Trophy winning Washington Capitals when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin next week.

Leafs fans were probably hoping for a playoff series against their Ontario rivals in Ottawa, but Sunday’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets made that an impossibility. The Sens might have been a softer opponent, as few fans and analysts have given the Leafs much of a chance against the powerhouse Caps. In fact, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk doesn’t seem to think the Leafs will be sticking around long himself:

Working against them further was the rumour that the Leafs would be without the services of defenceman Nikita Zaitsev to start the series. However, head coach Mike Babcock dispelled those rumours and confirmed that Zaitsev will be good to go when the puck drops at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Babcock is realistic yet confident about the upcoming matchup. 

Regardless of their result against the Capitals, Leafs fans have to be happy with their season. The team improved from a 30th place finish last season to contending for a playoff spot, to clinching a playoff spot in just 12 calendar months. No matter how you look at things, the Leafs have shattered expectations and surged past their predicted finish. Do they have it in them to follow the same trajectory? Or, will the fairy tale season end early?