In fact, no one figured they would still be playing hockey at all right now.
Five months ago the Leafs were in first in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. Then came an all-out collapse. At the close of the regular season they barely had enough points to scratch into the playoffs, earning the seventh seed.
They quickly dispatched of their first-round playoff opponent, the Ottawa Senators, in a four-game sweep. They allowed only three goals in the entire series.
This unexpected victory earned them a date with the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils, the conference’s top seed.
The Leafs shocked the Devils with an opening night road shutout.
The Devils bounced back to claim an overtime game-two victory.
But the Devils shouldn’t need overtime to beat the once-listless Leafs.
They shouldn’t even lose to them, should they?
And maybe the third-seeded Miami Heat shouldn’t be on the Florida golf courses by now, but they earned that right after losing three straight to the number six Charlotte Hornets
There’s no way the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers should upset the top-ranked Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia to open the two teams’ playoff series.
But they did.
And so we see what makes this time of year so grand.It’s that same phenomenon that makes the NCAA basketball tournament so intriguing.
The underdog.
Underdogs are born in the playoffs. Underdogs are kings in the playoffs.
While the NHL and NBA are in full swing of their playoff drives, several teams are already in full swing on the back nine of their local golf courses.
The Detroit Red Wings, a powerhouse throughout the 90s and this season as well, ousted by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
The third-seeded Washington Capitals, eliminated by Mario Lemieux and his sixth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins.
The previously mentioned Senators trounced by Toronto.
The Heat, with center Alonzo Mourning back in the lineup after a kidney ailment, dumped by the Hornets.
People will argue that parity nullifies playoff seeding.
But there is no parity between an Ottawa team that won 48 games during the regular season and a Toronto team managing only 37 notches in the win column.
There is something remarkable about the playoffs, however.
Is there something about playing with the season on the line that makes the underdog seem invincible?
Perhaps it’s playing for pride and bragging rights?
After all, every team will win games, but not every team will win the most important games when the pressure seems insurmountable.
That is what makes the playoffs great.
It’s not about what you did this past year, or even two months ago, for that matter.
It’s about what you can do right now.
Whoever summons the energy and fortitude to make the big play today will play again tomorrow.
Whoever doesn’t, keep your drive to the left side on nine, that fairway bunker is nothing but trouble.
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