Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Maple Leafs clinch playoff berth for seventh post-season in a row

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., March 25, 2023.
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., March 25, 2023. Photo by James Guillory /USA TODAY Sports

The Maple Leafs are going back to the playoffs. 

No surprise there, but it became official on Monday night when the Florida Panthers lost to the Ottawa Senators. 

From our newsroom to your inbox at noon, the latest headlines, stories, opinion and photos from the Toronto Sun.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

The Leafs will take part in the Stanley Cup tournament for the seventh year in a row. It’s their second-longest run in the National Hockey League’s expansion era (since 1967-68) and the fourth-longest run in franchise history.

Of course, the Leafs have had nothing to show for their playoff participation since 2004, when they beat Ottawa in the conference quarterfinals. Toronto has not won a playoff series since, and the 19 years without a playoff series victory is the NHL’s longest active drought. Buffalo is next at 16 years, and the Leafs’ futility streak is one of five in NHL history of at least that length.

Next on the Leafs’ to-do list is to clinch second place in the Atlantic Division, which would give them home-ice advantage in the first round. Barring a collapse, the Leafs should get second place.

With a record of 44-20-9 and 97 points, the Leafs are seven points up on third-place Tampa Bay and have a game in hand. 

The Leafs have nine games remaining, the Lightning eight. The clubs meet once more, on April 11 in Tampa.

And there seems to be no chance the Leafs will play a team other than Tampa in the first round. The Lightning has a comfortable lead of 11 points on fourth-place Florida. 

The Boston Bruins, meanwhile, already had clinched the Atlantic Division regular-season title.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

twitter.com/koshtorontosun