WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: Taylor Hall #4 of the Buffalo Sabres skates on the ice in the first period against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on January 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Sitting atop the North Division standings, never before in the Matthews-Marner-Nylander era has a path to the Final Four been so clear for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For this season alone, there is no Boston Bruins, no Tampa Bay Lightning. No Goliath waiting in the wings for a first-round playoff series destined to go seven games.