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Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Race Update

By James Tanner |
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 01: Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during warm-ups prior to an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 01: Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during warm-ups prior to an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 Saturday night to cap of a pretty great week overall.

Sure the Toronto Maple Leafs lost a big game to the New York Islanders on Thursday, but so what?

I mean, sure, it was a game we were all hoping they’d win for John Tavares, but it was still just one game.  The Islanders have almost no talent and they rely exclusively on excellent goaltending to win, but that didn’t stop people from jumping to ridiculous conclusions about how to beat the Leafs.

I mean it could have been the “heavy” game the Islanders played.  But most likely it was the fact that the Leafs were missing four regulars, including two top four defenseman and their starting goalie.  Oh, and they were also playing their third game in four nights after playing the night before at home and traveling.

Too much was made of that single game, and it obscured a great week of results from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Week in Review

The top story this week was John Tavares returning to the Island, but that was all hype and no substance.  The real story of the week were trades and injuries.

The Leafs made their big move with Muzzin on January, so they mostly stood pat on Monday, grabbing just Nic Petan from the Jets in exchange for Par Lindholm.

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I personally feel like the Leafs should have went a little harder for a Ron Hainsey replacement, but they didn’t.  Regardless, I think they’ve got the best roster in the NHL, I’m not too worried about it.  Overpaying at the trade deadline is a recipe for disaster and the stellar rookie season of Kyle Dubas has done enough to earn my trust.

The much bigger problem of course is injuries.  Jake Gardiner, potentially the best 5v5 defenseman on the team, and their biggest minute muncher is out with back spasms, while Travis Dermott has suffered a shoulder injury.

These are obviously catastrophic injuries, but with Holl, Marincin, Liljegren, Rosen and Borgman, the Leafs are in fine shape.  Hopefully both players will be back in time for the playoffs.

Speaking of playoffs, after victories over Buffalo, Edmonton and Buffalo (again) this week, the Leafs 40-21-4, good for third place in the Atlantic.

Boston has lost nine times in OT/Shootout and for their bad play they are somehow ranked ahead of the Leafs in the standings, even tough the Leafs have one more victory.   In fact, the Leafs have 39 ROW (wins in Regulation + OT)  which is third in the NHL behind Tampa (44) and Calgary (41).

The Toronto Maple Leafs also have the second best goal differential in the NHL (behind Tampa).  They’re fourth overall in the NHL and by all rights should be second.

Next. Three Likely Victims of the Salary Cap. dark

It took Boston going on a 9-0-1 streak to pass the Leafs, and surely they can’t keep that up.  The week ahead will see the Leafs play Calgary tonight, Vancouver on Wednesday and Edmonton on Saturday.

The most likely playoff scenario remains a Leafs vs Boston showdown with the Leafs getting home ice advantage.

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