Hurricanes target Maple Leafs fans with social media pitch

Article content

As the NHL playoffs roll on with the conference finals matchups set, fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs might be feeling caught between a rock and a hard place when watching games.

While the Leafs had a proverbial season from hell and failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, fans will often jump on another club’s bandwagon and ride things out to the Stanley Cup Final.

Article content

One of the four teams remaining in the hunt for the big silver mug is making a pitch to get some backing from Leafs Nation: The Carolina Hurricanes.

The Raleigh-based team reached out to fans of the Leafs in a reply on X on Monday night, after the Montreal Canadiens clinched their spot in the East final by beating the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7.

After sharing a picture announcing the matchup, one Leafs fan replied pledging their playoff allegiance to Carolina.

“Leafs fan here. Canes will be rooting for you all the way,” the fan wrote.

“Welcoming all Leafs fans with open arms,” the Hurricanes official account replied.

Article content

Why should Leafs fans root for the Canes?

The Canadiens’ playoff success has put Leafs fans in a tricky spot.

On one hand, the Habs are the Leafs’ oldest rival, dating back more than a century to their first matchup in 1917.

On the other, many Canadian hockey fans would love nothing more than to see a team from the Great White North hoist the Cup for the first time since 1993, when Montreal most recently won it.

The Leafs and Hurricanes also have their own playoff history, with the teams meeting in the 2002 Eastern Conference final, with Carolina winning the series 4-2, but going on to lose the Cup final against Detroit in five games.

Carolina has been the hottest team in the playoffs through the first two rounds, having swept both of their series. First the Canes crushed the wild-card Ottawa Senators – another Leafs rival – and then took care of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final is set for Thursday night in Raleigh, giving Leafs Nation a couple of days to decide who they’ll be rooting for.

Share this article in your social network