Toronto Maple Leafs will win first round playoff series according to cute dog

Toronto Maple Leafs fans are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, and another opportunity to finally escape the first round and avoid a repeat of the annual spring collapse that has become all too familiar in recent years.

The Leafs will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 on Tuesday, hoping for a do-over of the disastrous exit witnessed last May, but fans got a glimmer of hope the day before puck drop, when an adorable dog selected the team as a favourite to win their best-of-seven series.

Instagram account aircorg has been delighting sports fans for years, where an Air Bud-esque corgi makes trick basketball shots to predict winners of NBA and NHL series, even settling debates over the best fast food sandwiches.

The canine — known as Steph Furry in a reference to the Golden State Warriors' point guard Steph Curry — shared his selections for the 2023 NHL playoffs' first round, and has chosen the Leafs to defeat the Lightning.

CORGI SAID SWISH 🏀

Complete your #NHLBracket before the #StanleyCup Playoffs fun begins! 🤭

(🎥: IG/aircorg) pic.twitter.com/yYYdkRRozK

— NHL (@NHL) April 17, 2023

If one were to take things a step further and analyze the corgi's shot as foreshadowing how the series will unfold, the ball's chaotic path to the basket could hint that fans are in for a real rollercoaster.

A few fans are delighted to see that someone actually thinks the Leafs will win a first-round series for once.

Woo hoo Leafs

— Jackie (@Jackiebmanuel) April 17, 2023

But others were quick to point out that the dog has made incorrect predictions in the past. Which is fair given the fact we're talking about a freakin' dog.

Corgi was wrong last year. Just saying

— y-Landys knee (@Chri5missed) April 17, 2023

Could this talented corgi have predicted glory for the blue and white? Or are fans destined for another year of disappointment? Only time will tell.