As the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, there are many questions heading into the eight exciting first-round matchups.
Probably the biggest question is, will the Toronto Maple Leafs finally vanquish their demons and beat the Boston Bruins?
It is no secret, the Leafs have a tumultuous history with the Bruins. In three playoff matchups between the Original Six rivals from 2013 to 2019, Boston won all three times in seven games.
While the Leafs have a more experienced core compared to five years ago, the team has struggled mightily against the Bruins in recent years. Boston won all four meetings this regular season, having lost seven straight matchups dating back to last season.
Even so, Toronto knows they have something to prove heading into this series, regardless of them being considered the underdogs.
On Friday’s playoff preview edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Matt Larkin joined Frank Seravalli and Colby Cohen to explain why the Leafs have a shot at taking down the Bruins.
Matt Larkin: These two teams are so different from when they last met, which was five years ago. My pick, and I’m surprising myself, it is the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games. I think everyone needs to understand, these aren’t your granddaddy’s Boston Bruins. They are still a great team on the power play…but defensively, they are now what they were even a year ago. I think the Leafs’ ability to roll multiple deadly lines, especially if you move Mitch Marner to his own line, and keep [Auston] Matthews with [Max] Domi and [Tyler] Bertuzzi, I think it’s going to overwhelm the Bruins.
There’s been talk, and we’ve seen in the line rushes, Boston has been trying Charlie McAvoy and [Hampus] Lindholm playing together, and I think that’s a risky decision for Jim Montgomery for loading up your top shutdown pair against Matthews. I just think the forward depth is going to be the key advantage for the Leafs.
You can watch the full segment and the entire episode here…
More must-reads: