Pacioretty’s tale is one of endurance. He signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with Toronto prior to the season following a pair of Achilles injuries that limited him to five games during the 2022-23 season and kept him out until Jan. 3, 2024, when he returned to play 47 games with the Washington Capitals.

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators in 6 games, setting up a second-round series with the Florida Panthers

Toronto moves on to the second round, but their narrow escape against Ottawa raises more doubts than confidence.