Lightning clinch playoff berth, lock in 1st-round matchup vs. Maple Leafs

The Tampa Bay Lightning will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight year.

Tampa Bay clinched a postseason berth with a 5-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

The Bolts vanquished the Leafs in seven games in 2022. They reached the Cup Final, losing in six to the Colorado Avalanche. Tampa got to the championship round for the third time in as many years after winning back-to-back titles.

Home-ice advantage for the upcoming series hasn't yet been determined. Toronto sits second in the Atlantic Division, four points ahead of the third-place Lightning with two games in hand. Both clubs earned shutout wins Saturday, as the Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-0.

Toronto clinched a playoff spot Monday when the Senators beat the Florida Panthers. The Leafs have qualified for seven straight seasons but will be looking to win a series for the first time since 2004.