Leafs qualify for Stanley Cup playoffs with victory over Islanders

With a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders, John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs have clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As any fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs will tell you, the past month has been far from pretty.

Having tallied a 6-5-3 record (3-2-1 at home and 3-3-2 on the road) throughout March, the club was undoubtedly caught in the worst spell of its 2018-19 campaign. Thankfully, those anxieties were somewhat calmed on Monday evening, when the team snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat, and in turn clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Put simply, it couldn’t have been set into motion in a sweeter manner.

Left to grapple with the prospect of a third and final meeting with John Tavares’ former New York Islanders, the Buds went into Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum facing a potentially devastating thought, as the organization sought to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Long Island crew.

As you’ll recall, the last meeting between the two franchises was far from pretty.

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April 1, however, was a different story altogether. Strong performances from the likes of the aforementioned Tavares, goaltender Frederik Andersen and Calle Rosen — a much-hyped addition to the club’s D-core — allowed the aspirations of Mike Babcock’s men to be translated into a reality.

From the get-go, Monday night’s matchup was defined by one word: confidence. Rosen netted his first career NHL goal in his fifth-ever start. Indeed, Rosen’s 2018-19 debut couldn’t have come at a better time for the Leafs, as recent injuries to Travis Dermott and Jake Gardiner have caused the organization to ice a handicapped blue line.

Yet the real highlight of the night came about when Mitch Marner dished an incredible pass to none other than No. 91 for a world-class rip.

A late power play goal from Islanders’ winger Jordan Eberle ensured that the game concluded in a nail-biting fashion — or in other words, a typical night for Leafs Nation. But this time, the result was far from ordinary, as the team clinched a playoff berth for the third season in a row.

For the first time in what seems like eons, the Leafs looked dominant — owning the neutral zone, confident between the pipes and calm amidst the chaos. And while the real work is only beginning, the club desperately needed a win of this variety, inching its path out of the doldrums and instilling a measure of winning ways.

With its eyes set on a run at Lord Stanley’s trophy, the Buds shall look to build upon Monday night’s momentum over the course of the final week of the regular season.