Toronto Maple Leafs: Go Big or Go Home, but Go Big

Apr 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) watches before a face-off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) watches before a face-off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to put the pedal to the metal to clinch a playoff spot.

They owe it to themselves to secure a spot in the 2016-17 playoffs. This Toronto Maple Leafs team is the most successful one I’ve seen since 2003-04 and much of their success is attributed to rookies.

Plus, I was nine that year and don’t remember much of it.

Even after the recent bombarding courtesy of the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning (thank you very much), there’s still hope. Think about that tough loss to the Florida Panthers a few weeks ago where the Leafs just looked awful. Since then, they’ve been absolute dynamite going 8-3-1.

This team rebounds, they do.

Tough Road Ahead

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The Leafs have two games remaining on their schedule. They need just one point out of a possible four to secure a playoff spot.

On Saturday, the Leafs will welcome the already clinched Pittsburgh Penguins to the Air Canada Centre. If they beat them in regulation, overtime or shootout, boom, they’re in.

But, it’s the Penguins.

The Stanley Cup defending champions are not a piece of cake. I even had the misconstrued notion that Thursday night’s game would’ve been an easy one considering the last time the two met. That being said, it’ll be a tough game, but the Leafs have more motivation to win it.

I’ll expand on that in a bit.

In the event that they fail to record a point in that game, there’s one remaining.

On Sunday, the Leafs host the Columbus Blue Jackets, again a difficult task at hand. But, it can be done. The last time these two clubs met, the Leafs won big 5-2 in Columbus.

Let’s not get greedy here. One point will do.

But, any more than one would also be satisfying.

Silver Lining

It’s not much of a silver lining because I don’t think teams just let up that often, but it’s a glimmer of hope for a nervous fan base right now.

Both the Penguins and the Blue Jackets have secured their place in the standings. Meaning there’s no real reason to go as hard as possible against the Leafs. Now, don’t be expecting a Paul Crewe type of game out of these two teams.

Although having a more lackadaisical approach to the game doesn’t appear to be a terrible option to maybe rest some of their stars in preparation for a long road to the Stanley Cup.

Unless they consider the Leafs potential threats in the playoffs, which they should, a point doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

The Leafs still have the best odds of making the playoffs out of the teams looking inside with 88.5% compared to the next closest at 7.4% belonging to the New York Islanders.

If the Leafs make the playoffs, they would face the Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators or Boston Bruins. It all depends on how the Bruins, Senators, and Leafs finish. Regardless, if they get the second Wild Card spot, say hello to Washington, folks.

It’s not over yet, this team is different, fresh and exciting.