What's a Leaf fan supposed to do during the Stanley Cup playoffs? A guide.

source : thestar.com

Everywhere you look, there are ex-Leafs in the playoffs. You can't watch Habs-Sens and feel good about yourself. Here's the Breakaway Guide to the Playoffs for a Leafs fan.

So you're a true blue Leafs fan and you want to watch the playoffs, but you need some guidance on who or what to root for.

Here's the Breakaway guide to the playoffs for a Leafs fan:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

MONTREAL CANADIENS vs OTTAWA SENATORS

Ex-Leafs involved: Clarke MacArthur, Ottawa Senators.

WHAT TO DO: Don't watch. Hopefully the Raptors are on. Or the Blue Jays. (Unlike Ottawa or Montreal, Toronto has more than one major league team. So there.)

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Ex-Leafs involved: Daniel Winnik, Penguins; Dominic Moore, Rangers.

WHAT TO DO: Cheer for the Penguins, and say things like "that Winnik can sure drive possession."

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs DETROIT RED WINGS

Ex-Leafs involved: None

WHAT TO DO: Root for the Lightning. They wear blue and white, so you can just imagine what it feels like. Besides, maybe if the Wings are eliminated, GM Ken Holland will be so mad he'll fire Mike Babcock and then..... and then..... Sigh.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Ex-Leafs involved: Tim Gleason, Capitals; Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolay Kulemin, Islanders.

WHAT TO DO: Root for either team. Leafs are still paying Gleason and Grabovski, so it's almost like the Leafs are in the playoffs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

VANCOUVER CANUCKS vs CALGARY FLAMES

Ex-Leafs involved: Joe Colborne, Matt Stajan, Flames.

WHAT TO DO: I know you hate the Canucks, but do you really want to see Brian Burke's quick rebuild in Calgary work (when the here didn't)?

ANAHEIM DUCKS vs WINNIPEG JETS

Ex-Leafs involved: Korbinian Holzer, Ducks; Lee Stempniak, Jiri Tlusty, Jay Harrison and coach Paul Maurice, Jets.

WHAT TO DO: A cornucopia of under-achieving ex-Leafs. The Jets are the only other team to wear a maple leaf on their jersey, so the answer is obvious: Anaheim. Just kidding: Jets.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Ex-Leafs involved: Mike Santorelli, Cody Franson, Victor Stalberg, Predators; Kris Versteeg, Blackhawks.

WHAT TO DO: Root for the Blackhawks. The earlier the Predators are eliminated, the better the first-round pick the Leafs get for sending Franson and Santorelli to Nashville.

ST. LOUIS BLUES vs MINNESOTA WILD

Ex-Leaf involved: Alexander Steen, Olli Jokinen, Carl Gunnarsson, St. Louis.

WHAT TO DO: Grimace every time you see Steen.