I’ve just learned a new interesting trivia fact today. The last time both the Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins missed the NHL playoffs in the same year was back in the 1966-67 season. So far, Boston is on a 9-game losing streak this late in the season and is dead last in the eastern conference standings, for the first time since April 1997. And as of April 2, 2025, Detroit is actually 4 points away from the last playoff spot in the East, currently held by the Montreal Canadiens. There’s actually a pretty strong possibility that both of these teams could miss the playoffs in 2025.
And by the way, 1967 was actually the last year that the Maple Leafs won the Stanley cup championship. What an encouraging coincidence. That gives me hope personally.
With how weak the East is in 2024-25, the path to the finals is clear and open for Toronto. Among the playoff teams in the Eastern Conference, only the Florida Panthers and the Washington Capitals scare me. The Ottawa Senators, with their young and talented core might be darkhorse status but they aren’t contenders yet because they’re still a young, inexperienced and flawed team, the Senators haven’t made the playoffs since the 2016-17 season. The Tampa Bay Lightning is the most balanced team with the best goal differential (+72) in the East this season, and with their dangerous offense, elite defense and goaltender Vasilievsky returning to elite form, they’re a legitimate threat to win the cup, but the Leafs have had their number all season and don’t seem to fear them. Toronto is 3-0-0 against Tampa this year. The New Jersey devils have injuries at key positions to important players. They lost their best center/forward, Jack Hughes for the season and he won’t be able to return until next September. They also lost their two best defensemen on their team (Siegenthaler and Hamilton) for the season too. As for The Hurricanes, they are a consistent and good regular season team, but they don’t have enough scoring depth and elite scoring punch on offense. They’re missing that elite forward with gambreaking ability, that’s why they traded for Mikko Rantanen earlier in the season. Their scoring by committee works in the regular season but their offense almost always dries up in the playoffs. And I don’t trust their goaltender Frederik Andersen to take them to the promised land. He has a constant tendency to choke under pressure and allow backbreaking goals at the worst moments.
Also, if the Maple Leafs win against the Florida panthers at home tonight, they will clinch a playoff spot and make the playoffs for the 9th straight season.
Another encouraging sign-What happened when the Leafs made the playoffs for the ninth year in a row? Answer: They won the 1967 Stanley Cup.
Hopefully the long and intelorable 58-year Stanley cup title drought will end in June this spring. 4 entire generations of Leafs fans: Gen X, Millenials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha never saw the Leafs play a game in a Stanley Cup Final. Only Silent Generation and the oldest Baby Boomers actually have vivid memories of the last Maple Leafs Cup championship roster in 1967( with Punch Imlach as coach, George Armstrong as captain , Johnny Bower, Dave Keon, Ron Ellis, Bob Baun, Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, etc)
www.thescore.com
