LEAFS NOTES: Playoff planning can get underway again​on April 3, 2025 at 2:24 am

It has been hard to steer at times, but the Maple Leaf playoff bandwagon can officially start up again.

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With a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Toronto marked its ‘X’ in the clinched column. While first place in the Atlantic Division is still to be decided, it’s the Leafs’ ninth straight post-season appearance, which has spanned three coaches, the NHL’s active lead, which they had shared with the broken Boston Bruins.

It’s also Toronto’s longest streak since 1959-67, but where that concluded with four Stanley Cups in the final six seasons, all under Punch Imlach, one series win is all these Leafs have to show.

They came into this game needing just a point and it was a lot more fun to earn it before 19,066 fans at Scotiabank Arena than get in Tuesday night while idle. Wins on Tuesday by Montreal and Columbus postponed the clinch.

SETTING A DATE

With the playoff spot sewn up, talk turns to when the Maple Leafs might begin their opening round series.

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On paper, the thought was that any teams playing on Thursday, April 17, the final night of the schedule, which includes potential opponents Toronto, Tampa Bay and Ottawa, would not be compelled to play two nights later on Saturday, even if that date is appointment viewing for fans.

“Not necessarily,” said deputy commissioner Bill Daly, while in town with boss Gary Bettman on Wednesday for the official announcement of the new Rogers broadcast deal. “We’ll wait until we have the matchups and see what the broadcasting arrangements are. It’s a complicated formula.

“That might not be typical (just a two-day break for some teams), but it’s not necessarily locked.”

Building availability could also be a factor around the league, though Scotiabank Arena is currently keeping April 22 and 24 and May 1 and 5 open for first round home matches if necessary. Florida, which has its last game Tuesday, April 15, has put aside those same dates at Amerant Bank Arena, while Tampa Bay’s Amalie Arena and Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre do not have a heavy non-hockey event calendar at present in April and early May.

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“It’s no different than usual,” Daly said of mapping out series in relation to venues. “Our clubs are well aware of what they have to be able to deliver. We don’t anticipate any issues.”

NOISY NEIGHBOURS

As a notable number of fans at SBA once more booed The Star-Spangled Banner at game time versus Florida, Bettman was asked earlier how the heightening tensions between the U.S. and Canada are affecting the NHL, with 25 of its 32 franchises south of the border.

While saying the $11 billion Cdn. deal with Rogers reinforces league confidence that relations are strong, Bettman added “I don’t personally think it’s appropriate for us, when we’re focusing on fans and hockey, to weigh into the political spectrum. I think people want us to use sports — our sport — as an escape.

“I hope what we’re seeing is a moment in time and things can get back to a normal reality. I have concerns from a business standpoint that if the Canadian economy suffers by what’s going on, that will impact the way we have to do business. As you know, our teams in Canada pay players in U.S. dollars. If the Canadian dollar drops, that’s an issue we’ll have to deal with.

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“I’m hoping these two great historical allies can get past where they are.”

LOOSE LEAFS

Former captain Mats Sundin made a rare appearance at Scotiabank Arena for the game to present a sweater to a Canadian Forces member on behalf of the team alumni. The Swede is watching Auston Matthews close in on his franchise record for goals, 420 to 397 … The Marlies played a school day game Wednesday morning, losing 2-1 in overtime to the Utica Comets. Dennis Hildeby made 25 saves, while an assist by Alex Steeves on Logan Shaw’s goal gave him 55 points in 53 games … Wednesday was Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s 750th NHL game and 50th this season … It was also the 1969 anniversary of Pat Quinn knocking out Bobby Orr in the 1969 playoffs, a 10-0 Bruins win that ended with Forbes Kennedy’s meltdown, trying to fight the whole Bruins’ team, given four majors and hitting a linesman, resulting in the suspension that ended his NHL career.

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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