2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: Maple Leafs vs. Lightning

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Fifty-four wins. One hundred and fifteen points. Sixty goals and a new franchise record for Auston Matthews.

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By many measurements, 2021-22 was a historically good season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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And to celebrate these many achievements, they get… a date with the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions with everything on the line.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have a rare opportunity for some historic feats of their own.

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Should they complete the championship three-peat, they’d be the first NHL franchise since the New York Islanders dynasty of 40 years ago to win the Cup three straight years.

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Remarkably, this is the first time these Atlantic foes will meet in the playoffs. And if there’s one word to describe this series, it’s offence. This should be fun.

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That their path to playoff redemption now goes through the champs feels like an almost cruel joke from the hockey gods,

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