The Toronto Maple Leafs will confront the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Scotibank Field on Tuesday, denoting whenever Toronto first will play a subsequent round game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs of the season games since May 4, 2004.
The 19-year dry spell between Maple Leafs postseason series wins finished when center John Tavares scored at 4:36 in extra time for a 2-1 dominate in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, giving Toronto a 4-2 series triumph.
With that trouble currently erased, Tavares said Toronto is seeing it not as an achievement but rather an open door.
“We believe that should push us forward,” Tavares said. “I believe it’s only one stage of four that we are attempting to make here in the end of the season games. Clearly it was bound to happen for us so it clearly is perfect to come through, yet it’s extraordinary on the grounds that we get the test of the second step now and the amazing chance to proceed with our season and contend in the end of the season games.”
The Panthers conquered a 3-1 series deficit to overcome the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins, who wrapped up with a NHL record 65 successes during the regular season. Forward Carter Verhaeghe’s goal at 8:35 of extra time gave Florida a 4-3 succeed at Boston in Match 7 of their first-round series Sunday.
