It is Thursday, October 22, and like every other Leafs fan, my heart rate is already elevated. We have a packed schedule of twelve games tonight, but naturally, all eyes are on the Rangers visiting us at 7:00 PM ET. The Leafs currently hold a 5-4-2 record, leaving us three games back in the Atlantic. With 73 games remaining, we are firmly in the race. Every year I tell myself not to get too invested this early, but here I am, analyzing roster pairings and praying for consistency. Looking back at yesterday, October 21, we saw Philadelphia take down Buffalo 3-1, and Ottawa cruise past Florida 5-1. Those results are just noise, though; tonight is all about whether we can stop tripping over our own skates. As a long-suffering fan who has endured the drought since 1967, I’ve learned that optimism is a dangerous game, yet here I am, ready to be hurt again. Whether it’s the draft talk or the grind of the regular season, the script feels all too familiar. Will this be the year? Probably not, but I’ll be watching every puck drop anyway, waiting for that elusive spark.