Will a shortened season translate into success for the Leafs? Or will the buds falter and miss the playoffs again this year? The NHL released the Leafs' full 2013 schedule on Saturday. We've highlighted a few match-ups you'll want to circle on your calendar. We also have a list of the full calendar below.
Leafs vs. Boston (Sat Feb 2, 2013)
In the last five years the fate of these two teams have been intertwined. Phil Kessel went to the Leafs and became their leading scorer, Boston got two stars that could potentially be the backbone of their team for years to come. Oh, did we mention the Stanley Cup win in 2010. Bruins fans are among the most rabid in the league and the Leafs, and Kessel in particular, will have to play like all-stars to shut them up.
Leafs vs. Ottawa (Sat Feb 16, 2013)
This year's first installment of the Battle of Ontario has more than a few wrinkles. Last year, the Sens rode a few breakout performances and made it to the playoffs. They even took the Eastern conference leading New York Rangers to the brink. On paper, the Sens are the better team. The Leafs will want to prove the experts wrong.
Leafs vs. Montreal (Sat. Apr 27, 2013)
The Leafs season kicks off in Montreal and this match-up at the end of the season will be an appropriate book-end. Obviously there's deep history among these two teams but both teams missed the playoffs last year and will want to avoid that this year. If either of these teams are on the bubble come April, we could have one of the most memorable games of the season.
Full Maple Leafs schedule after the slideshow
NHL Home Openers
Sat Jan 19, 2013Toronto at Montréal7:00 PM ETCBC,RDS
Mon Jan 21, 2013Buffalo at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Wed Jan 23, 2013Toronto at Pittsburgh7:00 PM ETTSN
Thu Jan 24, 2013NY Islanders at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Jan 26, 2013Toronto at NY Rangers7:00 PM ETCBC,NHLN-US
Tue Jan 29, 2013Toronto at Buffalo7:00 PM ET
Thu Jan 31, 2013Washington at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Feb 2, 2013Boston at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC,NHLN-US
Mon Feb 4, 2013Carolina at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Tue Feb 5, 2013Toronto at Washington7:00 PM ET
Thu Feb 7, 2013Toronto at Winnipeg8:00 PM ET
Sat Feb 9, 2013Toronto at Montréal7:00 PM ETCBC,RDS,NHLN-US
Mon Feb 11, 2013Philadelphia at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Thu Feb 14, 2013Toronto at Carolina7:00 PM ET
Sat Feb 16, 2013Ottawa at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC
Mon Feb 18, 2013Toronto at Florida7:30 PM ET
Tue Feb 19, 2013Toronto at Tampa Bay7:30 PM ET
Thu Feb 21, 2013Buffalo at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Feb 23, 2013Toronto at Ottawa7:00 PM ETCBC
Mon Feb 25, 2013Toronto at Philadelphia7:00 PM ETTSN
Wed Feb 27, 2013Montréal at Toronto7:30 PM ETRDS,TSN
Thu Feb 28, 2013Toronto at NY Islanders7:00 PM ET
Mon Mar 4, 2013New Jersey at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Wed Mar 6, 2013Ottawa at Toronto7:30 PM ETTSN
Thu Mar 7, 2013Toronto at Boston7:00 PM ETTSN
Sat Mar 9, 2013Pittsburgh at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC,NHLN-US
Tue Mar 12, 2013Toronto at Winnipeg8:00 PM ET
Thu Mar 14, 2013Pittsburgh at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Mar 16, 2013Winnipeg at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC
Wed Mar 20, 2013Tampa Bay at Toronto7:00 PM ETTSN
Thu Mar 21, 2013Toronto at Buffalo7:00 PM ET
Sat Mar 23, 2013Boston at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC,NHLN-US
Mon Mar 25, 2013Toronto at Boston7:00 PM ETTSN
Tue Mar 26, 2013Florida at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Thu Mar 28, 2013Carolina at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Mar 30, 2013Toronto at Ottawa7:00 PM ETCBC
Thu Apr 4, 2013Philadelphia at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Apr 6, 2013Toronto at New Jersey7:00 PM ETCBC
Mon Apr 8, 2013NY Rangers at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Wed Apr 10, 2013Toronto at NY Rangers7:30 PM ETTSN
Sat Apr 13, 2013Montréal at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC,RDS,NHLN-US
Mon Apr 15, 2013New Jersey at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Tue Apr 16, 2013Toronto at Washington7:00 PM ETTSN
Thu Apr 18, 2013NY Islanders at Toronto7:00 PM ET
Sat Apr 20, 2013Toronto at Ottawa7:00 PM ETCBC
Wed Apr 24, 2013Toronto at Tampa Bay7:00 PM ETTSN
Thu Apr 25, 2013Toronto at Florida7:30 PM ET
Sat Apr 27, 2013Montréal at Toronto7:00 PM ETCBC,RDS