Is it a curse? Is it a conspiracy? Bad luck? Or maybe the teams just aren’t good enough.
Whatever the reason, it’s been almost three decades since a Canadian NHL team has hoisted the Stanley Cup.
Nevertheless, the early days of playoff hockey remain filled with hope this year — the same hope that fills Canadian hockey fans (almost) every April.
This cruel yearning is most pervasive among fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that has made it to the playoffs six out of the last seven seasons, but has failed to make it past the first round since 2004. For reference,
