Rick Zamperin: 3 reasons why the Maple Leafs and Jets will meet in the Stanley Cup final

Pop quiz. How many years has it been since a Canada-based team won the Stanley Cup?

The answer is 25.

Yes, it’s been a quarter of a century since Patrick Roy and the Montreal Canadiens beat Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings to win hockey’s holy grail.

The Habs were long eliminated from this year’s post-season, but Canadian hockey fans still have two teams they can cheer for this spring – the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.

The Leafs begin their quest to end a 51 year championship drought on Thursday night when they travel to Boston to face the Bruins.

On Wednesday, the Jets begin their series against the visiting Minnesota Wild as Winnipeg strives to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Best case scenario, Toronto and Winnipeg meet in the Stanley Cup final.

Hey, don’t laugh – it could happen.

It’s true, the Jets have not won a playoff game since they returned to Winnipeg in 2011, but they skated to the second best record in the National Hockey League this season.

Toronto hasn’t won a playoff series since 2004, although they’ve only made the playoffs twice since then, but the Buds compiled the seventh best record this year.

Three reasons why the Leafs and Jets will meet in the Stanley Cup final:

1. Both the Jets and Leafs have a mouth-watering mix of proven coaches, great goaltending, playoff-tested veterans and exciting, young talent on their rosters.
2. The Leafs and Jets scored 277 goals during the regular season. That’s second only to Tampa Bay’s 296. Proof that Canada’s two playoff teams have a bevy of players who can put the puck in the net.
3. Both clubs have great special teams. Toronto is second in the NHL, and Winnipeg is tied for fifth overall, in combined power-play/penalty killing efficiency. (Toronto 25% PP/81.4% PK … Winnipeg 23.4% PP/81.8% PK)

If both teams can stay healthy and get great performances from their goalies (the two biggest keys to any playoff run) the odds of both Toronto and Winnipeg making it all the way to the final isn’t as small as you might think.

So, who is going to win it all?

I will tell you on Wednesday.

First-round NHL playoff schedule (All times Eastern; *If necessary)

Eastern Conference

Lightning vs. Devils
Game 1: April 12 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Game 2: April 14 at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m.
Game 3: April 16 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: April 18 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: April 21 at Tampa Bay, TBD
*Game 6: April 23 at New Jersey, TBD
*Game 7: April 25 at Tampa Bay, TBD

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
Game 1: April 12 at Boston, 7 p.m.
Game 2: April 14 at Boston, 7 p.m.
Game 3: April 16 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Game 4: April 19 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
*Game 5: April 21 at Boston, TBD
*Game 6: April 23 at Toronto, TBD
*Game 7: April 25 at Boston, TBD

Capitals vs. Blue Jackets
Game 1: April 12 at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: April 15 at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: April 17 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: April 19 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: April 21 at Washington, TBD
*Game 6: April 23 at Columbus, TBD
*Game 7: April 25 at Washington, TBD

Penguins vs. Flyers
Game 1: April 11 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Game 2: April 13 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Game 3: April 15 at Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
Game 4: April 18 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
*Game 5: April 20 at Pittsburgh, TBD
*Game 6: April 22 at Philadelphia, TBD
*Game 7: April 24 at Pittsburgh, TBD

Western Conference

Predators vs. Avalanche
Game 1: April 12 at Nashville, 9:30 p.m.
Game 2: April 14 at Nashville, 3 p.m.
Game 3: April 16 at Colorado, 10 p.m.
Game 4: April 18 at Colorado, 10 p.m.
*Game 5: April 20 at Nashville, TBD
*Game 6: April 22 at Colorado, TBD
*Game 7: April 24 at Nashville, TBD

Jets vs. Wild
Game 1: April 11 at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Game 2: April 13 at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: April 15 at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Game 4: April 17 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
*Game 5: April 20 at Winnipeg, TBD
*Game 6: April 22 at Minnesota, TBD
*Game 7: April 25 at Winnipeg, TBD

Golden Knights vs. Kings
Game 1: April 11 at Vegas, 10 p.m.
Game 2: April 13 at Vegas, 10 p.m.
Game 3: April 15 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: April 17 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
*Game 5: April 19 at Vegas, 10 p.m.
*Game 6: April 21 at Los Angeles, TBD
*Game 7: April 23 at Vegas, TBD

Ducks vs. Sharks
Game 1: April 12 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.
Game 2: April 14 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: April 16 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: April 18 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
*Game 5: April 20 at Anaheim, TBD
*Game 6: April 22 at San Jose, TBD
*Game 7: April 24 at Anaheim, TBD