BOSTON — Sheldon Keefe's team was in a similar position 12 months ago.
The Maple Leafs dropped their playoff opener to the Tampa Bay Lightning before roaring back to capture the Original Six franchise's first series in nearly two decades.
A weight was finally lifted. The fan base rejoiced, if only briefly.
Despite suffering a 5-1 loss in Boston to open this spring's Stanley Cup tournament, Toronto still — at least in some ways — finds itself in a slightly better spot compared to last year's curtain-raising setback on home ice.