For hockey fans, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and it starts early next week.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here, and all eyes are going to be on the several key matchups that the opening round has to offer. Perhaps none of them are carrying as much cache as upcoming series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning.
As everyone knows by know, the Maple Leafs have yet to advance past the first round of the postseason since their 2004 opening round series victory over their Ontario rival Ottawa Senators, having suffered several humiliating and heartbreaking series losses against the likes of the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, and last year against the Lightning.
Meanwhile, the Lightning will be attempting to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth straight year, which would make them the first team since the New York Islanders dynasty of the early 1980's to accomplish the feat. They'll have to get past Toronto, who earned home ice advantage thanks to a strong regular season campaign, and who also made several key additions along the way.
And as announced earlier this morning, the Leafs and Lightning will officially get underway starting this Tuesday with Game 1, followed by Game 2 on Thursday.
