Leafs Clinch Playoff Spot for First Time in 9 Years

The NHL playoffs just aren’t the same if you don’t have an emotional vested interest attached to them.

For the last 8 years – it’s really been 9 but one of those was the 2004 lockout – Leaf supporters have had to endure watching other fans rejoice in the intense flurry of emotion only the Stanley Cup Playoffs can provide.

Since 2006, Toronto in April has had to usher mediocre Jays teams with faint and unrealistic shows of anticipation, observe the Raptors miss the playoffs yet again as they curse the list of superstars that always wanted out, and of course, watch the grueling and incredibly exciting NHL playoffs with passive indifference because their beloved Maple Leafs are playing golf, partying in Las Vegas cabanas, or doing whatever it is that NHL players do while they’re not playing hockey.

Well, not this year. Dion Phaneuf and company will have to wait a little longer before making the difficult choice of which 5 star Las Vegas resort to book so they can throw away their money on overpriced champagne and American coeds that don’t know who they are. Who knows, they may even have to wait a lot longer.

As the Los Angeles Kings proved last year, entering the playoffs as the Western Conference’s eighth seed, anything can happen. That’s the beauty of the NHL playoffs.

Statistically and logically, a best of seven series should see the better team on paper prevail, however, every year, a list of upsets awaits to either elate lucky gamblers, or destroy the ones who unfortunately decided to play it safe.

A best of seven series is so much more than a simple matchup between a couple of teams to see who is more talented, quicker, stronger, etc. It is a test of character, commitment, self-sacrifice, and an arena where incredible intensity unveils unforeseen weaknesses, uncovers new strengths, and welcomes new heroes.

For 8 years the Leafs remarkably loyal and vast fanbase has had to miss out on the joy of hockey in April. Not this year.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are hockey on steroids. The energy and excitement transcend the arena and enter people’s hearts and homes.

As a devoted Leafs fan, I don’t even care if they go out in the first round. I just want to remember the unbelievable highs and the dispiriting lows. I want to jump with irrational joy when an overtime goal is scored and curse with irreproachable language when a bad penalty is called as my Spanish girlfriend looks on with concern and hesitation as she ponders whether to join in, tell me to calm down, or hide the rest of the beer.

I want to remember what it feels like when the playoffs matter.