And that’s exactly what the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning will offer us. For hockey fans, this confrontation (which starts this Monday night) promises to be a real deal. A vintage!

After surprising the Canadiens in the first round last spring, the Maple Leafs took the bull by the horns and are coming off the best season in their history. Nothing is missing.

The Leafs are betting on the NHL’s top scorer in Auston Matthews. Mitch Marner and Matthews just arrived. Their power play unit is the most destructive in the league and they have scored more goals than any team other than the Florida Panthers.

After such a season and with so many assets held, the Maple Leafs have no right to lose. Just like they weren’t allowed to lose last year. Just as they were not allowed to lose when they were knocked out in the first round five consecutive times in the past five years, and in the last six times they have made it to the playoffs.

In fact, the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a series since 2004. And as I explained in this column before the Leafs were overthrown by CH last year, these are constant reminders of this tradition’s defeat – and the pressure coming. with it – which always ends up sinking them.

As for Maple Leafs, the topo couldn’t be clearer. Moving to the second round would be a great exit, perhaps even the start of the Cup climb. The knock out will trigger another Armageddon between the followers and the team management.

The storyline of the Tampa Bay Lightning is completely different because their incredible successes over the past few years have propelled them into a difficult battle with mental fatigue and demotivation.

In 2018, after winning the back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Pittsburgh Penguins fell and were swept away by the hungrier New York Islanders. For Sid and his gang, there was no more energy in the tank.

Lightning won their two Pandemic Cups under exhausting conditions. In addition, the pandemic affected NHL finances to the point of causing a salary cap freeze. So GM Julien BriseBois was forced to release a large number of key players (his third full lineup!) At the end of last season.

But here it is: Tampa Bay still banks on the best goaltender in the NHL (Andrei Vasilevskyi) and one of the three best defensemen in Victor Hedman. Furthermore, the Tampa Bay offense, led by Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov is still one of the toughest in the NHL.

Add to this the fact that, since 2002, no team from the four major professional championships in North America has been able to win three consecutive titles. In the NHL, the Islanders in the early 1980s were the last to achieve this massive feat.

For Lightning, in addition to the embarrassment of bowing out against the Leafs, the elimination would mean the end of a unique opportunity to mark the history of hockey and North American professional sport.

My prediction: Given all of the above, the Lightning at 6.

And for the other series:

Carolina Hurricanes against the Boston Bruins : Although their goaltender Frederik Andersen is a doubt for this series, the Hurricanes are superior in talent and depth. The Hurricanes of 6.

Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals : The Capitals are not equipped on defense to deal with the Panthers ’depth and the best offense in the past 27 years. The Panthers at 5.

New York Rangers against the Pittsburgh Penguins : the Penguins nosedive at the end of the season and their goaltender Tristan Jarry, a pillar, was injured. The Rangers have experience, a fiery youngster and the most effective goalkeeper in the past two seasons with Igor Shesterkin. Rangers at 5.

Colorado Avalanche Vs. Nashville Predators : The Predators ’only chance in this series rests with their great goaltender Juuse Saros. However, Saros was injured. The Avalanche at 5.

Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues : Everyone is looking forward to an exciting trench war between these two teams, who have scored 113 and 109 points respectively this season. The Wild went 12-2-3 last month and the Blues fought 12-2-2. I’m going to Minnesota, one of the three teams that impressed me the most this year. The Wild at 7.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings : The Oilers have been on fire since being led by Jay Woodcroft. The script for this series, however, seems to have been written early: Phillip Danault will pick up Connor McDavid, and Mike Smith, who is 40 years old and vulnerable, will have a hard time if the series continues. The Kings of 7.

Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars : the Flames, because their defense is exceptional, are real contenders for the Stanley Cup. The Stars don’t have enough dynamism in attack to return the water. The Flames at 6.