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.