The Toronto Maple Leafs snap longest active drought without playoff series victory over Tampa Bay
The Maple Leafs snapped the NHL’s longest active drought without a playoff series win, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in overtime to win their first playoff series since April 20, 2004. That was 6,948 days ago.
The Toronto Maple Leafs snapped an 11-game losing streak in potential series-clinching games, which was the second longest ever by any NHL/NBA/MLB team behind the NHL’s Coyotes/Jets, who lost 13 straight with a chance to clinch a playoff series from 1990 to 2012. They also snapped a streak of 8 straight playoff series losses.
“Heaven Must Be Missing a Tavares”
John Tavares became the 9th skater in franchise history to score a series-clinching goal in OT but the first since Garry Valk in Game 6 of the 1999 Conference Semifinals against the Penguins.
Tavares is also just the 5th Maple Leafs player with a series-clinching OT goal in the last 80 seasons.
Toronto in OT Was The Key
The Maple Leafs won Games 3, 4 and 6 on the road…all in overtime. Toronto is the first team in Stanley Cup Playoff history to win three road overtime games in a single series.
This is also just the 5th time in franchise history Toronto has won each of its first three road games in a postseason (2023, 2001, 1977, 1951, 1949).
After the Maple Leafs’ OT win over the Lightning, road teams are 10-3 in overtime games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That is the third-most in a single round in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
Pete Comes Clean on the Maple Leafs
Well Toronto Maple Leaf fans, I say to you with all sincerity, congratulations on a job well done. I have been very hard on this organization for many years, and rightly so, but to win 3 games in ot on the road is very impressive.
I did think on Saturday night that the Lightning really outplayed you guys but in the end, I tip my hat to you. Now, if my beloved Bruins can finish off a very tough Florida Panthers team tonight in Boston, I expect another long second round series to take place next week.
Although I think the Bruins are the most talented and deepest team in the playoffs, they need to step it up tonight. Winning the first round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is extremely difficult no matter how great your regular season was.
That being said, my prediction for tonight is the Bruins score late in the 3rd and hang on for a 3-2 game 7 win. Talk to you all on Monday 2-6pm on Shemon and Sheppard.
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