THE OPPOSITION
NEW YORK RANGERS
Last season: 51-24-7, 109 points, 1st seed in East, lost in conference final to New Jersey.
Against the Leafs: 2-2-0 10 GF, 11 GA BOSTON BRUINS
Last season: 49-29-4, 102 points, 2nd seed in East, lost in conference quarter-final to Washington.
Against the Leafs: 6-0-0
36 GF, 10 GA FLORIDA PANTHERS
Last season: 38-26-18, 94 points, 3rd in East, lost in conference quarter-final to New Jersey.
Against the Leafs: 4-0-0
20 GF, 9 GA PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Last season: 51-25-6, 108 points, 4th in East, lost in conference quarter-final to Philadelphia.
Against the Leafs: 2-2-0 10 GF, 11 GA PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Last season: 47-26-9, 103 points, 5th in East, lost to New Jersey in conference semifinal.
Against the Leafs: 4-0-0
15 GF, 6 GA The Maple Leafs have not made the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 200304 season. With a shortened, postlockout season set to begin — in which the Leafs will only play Eastern Conference teams — they hope that postseason drought ends. The Leafs played fairly well against some top Eastern teams last season, including the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins. But to make the playoffs, they’ll have to improve against teams further down the ladder — such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens, their first opponent Saturday night. The Boston Bruins swept the Leafs last season, so a win there would help. Here’s how the Leafs fared against the competition last season (wins-losses-OT/SO losses): NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Last season: 48-28-6, 102 points, 6th in East, lost Stanley Cup final to Los Angeles.
Against the Leafs: 2-1-1
13 GF, 13 GA WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Last season: 42-32-8, 92 points, 7th seed in East, lost in conference semifinal to Rangers.
Against the Leafs: 3-1-0 11 GF, 11 GA OTTAWA SENATORS
Last season: 41-31-10, 92 points, 8th in East, lost to N.Y. Rangers in conference quarter-final.
Against the Leafs: 3-3-0
17 GF, 20 GA BUFFALO SABRES
Last season: 39-32-11, 89 points, 9th in East, out of playoffs.
Against the Leafs: 3-3-0 19 GF, 20 GA TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Last season: 38-36-8, 84 points, 10th in East, out of playoffs.
Against the Leafs: 0-3-1,
7 GF, 20 GA WINNIPEG JETS
Last season: 37-35-10, 84 points, 11th in East, out of playoffs.
Against the Leafs: 2-1-1
8 GF, 10 GA CAROLINA HURRICANES
Last season: 33-33-16, 82 points, 12th in East, out of playoffs.
Against the Leafs: 3-0-1 11 GF, 7 GA NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Last season: 34-37-11, 79 points, 14th in East, out of playoffs.
Against the Leafs: 1-2-1 11 GF, 14 GA MONTREAL CANADIENS
Last season: 31-35-16, 78 points, 15th in East, out of playoffs.
Against the Leafs: 3-2-1 17 GF, 12 GA Compiled by Alex Consiglio