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.

Max Pacioretty scored a tiebreaking goal with less than six minutes remaining in the third period, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a series-clinching 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursda

Depending on your perspective, the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ first-round victory can be seen in two different lights. On one hand, it’s only the second time in nine seasons that the team made it past the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs—a stat that underscores their frustrating postseason history.