The Leafs have a date with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Can the Leafs dethrone the alpha dogs and avoid bombing out in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs a sixth straight season?
Expectations are unique for a team only a few weeks away from facing its Minotaur: the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, a beast that has defeated them five straight times in the Matthews/Mitch Marner era.
TORONTO Ilya Mikheyev and the Toronto Maple Leafs added to the Edmonton Oilers' misery Wednesday night. Mikheyev scored on a third-period power play as Toronto defeated the undermanned Oilers 4-2 at Scotiabank Arena.
TORONTO A sold-out building. Connor McDavid versus Auston Matthews. Two teams desperate to right the wrongs of crushing playoff flops. A fan favourite returning home for the nationally televised game.