Maple Leafs now draw unfavorable first-round meeting with Lightning in Atlantic shakeup
By Jacob Quirin
![TAMPA, FL - MARCH 20: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) finishes his check on Toronto Maple Leafs defender Jake Gardiner (51) during the second period of an NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 20, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) TAMPA, FL - MARCH 20: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) finishes his check on Toronto Maple Leafs defender Jake Gardiner (51) during the second period of an NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 20, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f144e8fe366aba817617a0f653c29bc496e59ff9a26a208ac52aa050c20a4b3e.jpg)
The Atlantic Division got a major shakeup Thursday night with the Boston Bruins overtaking the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the division. What does that mean for the Maple Leafs?
The Boston Bruins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 Thursday in a playoff-like atmosphere in Boston. The game had both teams really digging in knowing first place was on the line. The Bruins’ win puts them in first place in the Atlantic Division with a game in hand over the Lightning.
The change in the standings leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs looking at a once unforeseeable first-round matchup with the Lightning.
The Leafs have had a solid month so far, winning 7 out of their 11 games. The team has struggled of late, though, losing two of five both by blowing third-period leads. The Leafs appear as though they are going to be fully healthy for the playoffs, with Leo Komarov expected to return to the lineup soon. Everything seems to be on the up and up for the Leafs, but a first-round matchup with the Lightning could end the Leafs’ season earlier than the majority of fans had anticipated.
The Lightning were the top dogs in the Atlantic for the majority of the season and have gone through a recent slump, losing five of their last eight. The recent poor stretch comes as a surprise for many Lightning fans considering the season they’ve had thus far. The Bolts have gone 51-22-4 through 77 games this season
The Lightning are merely having a bumpy patch in their season. The Leafs know that a first-round matchup with the Lightning is not what they want. The Bolts have beat the Leafs in three of the four meetings this season and looked very good in the process.
The Lightning are going to spell trouble for the Leafs because of their depth. The team has the star power to overpower the majority of teams in the league but they also have depth to back them up.
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The Lightning are a Stanley Cup contender regardless of them losing first place in the Atlantic. The Leafs are looking at a much harder first round matchup then they had anticipated and are going to be in tough with the mighty Lightning.