Whether the NHL finishes the regular season or jumps straight to the playoffs, the most likely scenario is that the Toronto Maple Leafs play Tampa.
Once again, the Leafs – and Tampa, and Boston- are at an extreme disadvantage in any Stanley Cup Tournament because the NHL’s divisional playoff format never accounted for the possibility of the three best teams in the league being in the same division.
Whatever the format this year’s playoffs ultimately take, the Leafs vs Lightning is something more akin to what the Final should be, not the first round.
Regardless, the Lighting could be in for a major surprise because depending on when the season starts again, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have a very different team.