Toronto Maple Leafs: A Week in the Life of Rivals
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in an interesting spot.
As of right now, the Toronto Maple Leafs are third in the Atlantic Division, with 72 points and 20 games to go.
However, as shown by the past couple of weeks, that can all change in one night. If, say, the Florida Panthers were to overtake the Toronto Maple Leafs in points, not only would they be out of their division, they would also be out of a wildcard spot.
So, like any Toronto Maple Leafs fan would nowadays, I went on standings watch to look at all the teams who’s success could hinder the team making a run at Lord Stanley come April.
At this point in the year, fans are starting to watch not only the Atlantic division, but the Metro division as well (I mean, they’re stacked).
Both Boston and Tampa still pose a threat to the Maple Leafs, as going through both of them will be necessary if we make the playoffs through our own division.
Florida is currently posing their biggest threat, but in all reality Montreal isn’t that far behind them. Then on the Metro side, everything is a tight race over there.
Seven points separate five different teams in the division.
Columbus and the Islanders currently hold both Wildcard spots, but Carolina is right on their heels, and the Penguins and Capitals don’t exactly have the tightest grip on that first and second place spots with Philadelphia making a late season run.
So, in reality, while we shouldn’t be worried, I would advise that a little worry is healthy. And, in the case of this year’s team, a little bit of worry is extremely needed, and even a little encouraged.
But, just for fun, let’s take a little look into the past week for all of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rivals. It can’t hurt to see what we’re up against.
Metro Division
Yes, before you mention it, I am aware that the Toronto Maple Leafs are not in the Metropolitan division.
However, there is an increasingly high chance that we will be in a wildcard spot come April. Which means, there is a chance we will be seeing Metropolitan teams, and not those familiar faces in Boston and Tampa.
Currently, the Metropolitan division standings look as such:
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (80 PTS)
2. Washington Capitals (80 PTS)
3. Philadelphia Flyers (77 PTS)
4. New York Islanders (74 PTS)
5. Carolina Hurricanes (74 PTS)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (73 PTS)
As you can see, seeds 1-5 are separated by seven points.
Columbus and Philadelphia have played the most games of the bunch (62) while Pittsburgh and NYI have the fewest played (60). What I’m saying is, is that a lot can happen in the remaining games of the season. Let’s break this down team by team.
Pittsburgh Penguins
If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, chances are you have some strong feelings about the Pittsburgh Penguins over the last week.
In the last week (dating back to Feb. 16) the Penguins have a 2-2 even record, getting 4 of the possible 8 points. The team has wins against the Red Wings, and a win against the Maple Leafs that most of Toronto would like to forget.
Then, on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs came back with a vengeance and downed the Penguins 4-0 in what was their best effort of the year. Then, this afternoon, the Penguins lost. Again. Shockingly, the Penguins lost 5-2 to the Buffalo Sabres.
Right now, the Penguins sit first in the Metro with a game in hand on Washington. Their next game is tomorrow against Washington. Let’s prepare for another Crosby-Ovechkin showdown.
Worry Level:Mild.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans shouldn’t be too too worried about the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chances are they won’t be the first team we see if we make a run at Stanley. But, I mean, it’s a fun matchup to think about down the road.
Washington Capitals
Any Toronto Maple Leafs fan remembers the playoff series against the Washington Capitals from a few years prior. It was the first playoff series with the team we know today, and honestly? No one saw the series coming. While it didn’t end as most fans were hoping, it showed that the young guns can hang with anyone.
In the last week, the Capitals have had a rough go, and haven’t been able to pick up a win. 3 regulation losses and one OT loss have spelled a rough go for the Caps, and has seen them drop to second in the Metro.
The Caps had regulation road losses against Arizona and Vegas, and then went home, hoping for a win against the Montreal Canadiens. Sadly, a 4-3 OT loss is what awaited them.
A loss to the New Jersey Devils follow that, and now the Capitals look to welcome Crosby into town. Man, tomorrow’s showdown with the Pens is looking real important.
Worry Level: Mild
There’s always a certain level of worry when it comes to the Washington Capitals. That worry comes simply due to Alex Ovechkin. 700 goals and he doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon. But, like the Penguins, we shouldn’t be worried about them just yet.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are on a roll. After a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team has been on a three game winning streak, downing the Jets and the Blue Jackets twice.
This team has certainly made a run recently, and now sit only three points behind Pittsburgh and Washington. They have the most games played in the Metro Division, and so they need to keep winning if they want to secure a spot in the playoffs.
The Flyers don’t play until Tuesday against San Jose, so the standings could look a lot different come then, as most of the other teams play before then.
Worry Level: Low
The Flyers shouldn’t cause Toronto Maple Leafs fans too much worry. While Flyers-Leafs would be a fun matchup, it looks like they are in the same boat. In saying that, it means that both teams look to be fighting for third in their division. The only worry would come if both teams find themselves looking for a wildcard spot.
New York Islanders
Oh, the Islanders. We’ve come to know them very well ever since John Tavares decided to come home a couple years ago.
However, over the last week, the Islanders haven’t been having the greatest time. They’ve won only one of their games over the last week, 2 of a possible 8 points. Losses to Vegas, Arizona, and Colorado sent the team home on a negative note. However, they pulled off a win against the Red Wings. Their next game is tomorrow against San Jose.
Worry Level: Mild-High
I’m always worried about the New York Islanders. Whenever the Toronto Maple Leafs go to Long Island, it becomes a horrible environment to play in.
So, if the time comes for an Islanders-Leafs playoff series, be prepared for the noise. But right now, air your worry on the mild side.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The last week has only saw losses for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Well, two of them have been in OT, so I guess that’s a positive sign. New Jersey and Philly took the Blue Jackets to OT, and The NYR & Philly defeated them in regulation.
The team plays against the Predators tonight, and they look to get back into a winning fashion now that the Metro has become such a tight race. Without points, the team will fall all the way out of a wildcard spot.
Worry Level: Low
I’m not too worried about the Blue Jackets. The Maple Leafs are only one point behind them, so if it came down to it, we could catch them in the wildcard race.
Carolina Hurricanes
Besides Saturday’s win against the Maple Leafs, the Hurricanes have had a pretty okay week. Two wins and two losses spells a mediocre week for the Canes. Injury wise, tonight’s game was rough and may prove the team to be buyers at the deadline. Both of Carolina’s goalies went down, and yet they still won the game.
Worry Level: High
Toronto Maple Leafs fans should be worried. I mean, it was an important game against Carolina and they blew it. I just, I don’t know what to say anymore.
Atlantic Division
The Toronto Maple Leafs best bet for a playoff entry is probably going to come through the Atlantic Division’s third seed.
Right now, here’s how their division shapes up:
1. Boston Bruins (90 PTS)
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (85 PTS)
3. Toronto Maple Leafs (72 PTS)
4. Florida Panthers (70 PTS)
Now, these standings were the exact same now as they were at the beginning of the weekend. Saturday was a night the entire Atlantic Division would like to forget (hello, blowout season).
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are that familiar enemy that nobody really wants to see again.
But, sadly, we have been resolved to three of our last four playoff series being against the Boston Bruins. And each of those three times, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been left with heartbreak. And, if we do make the playoffs, we will have to go through Boston again.
Over the last week, the Boston Bruins have played five times. Four of those have been wins. The last game however, against the Vancouver Canucks, I’m sure the whole city of Boston would like to forget.
How exactly does one lose 9-3? To the Vancouver Canucks? I don’t know. It’s especially surprising considering the fashion in which they won the four games prior to that one.
But, the Bruins have a tough pill to swallow on their way home. They face Calgary on Tuesday night looking to avenge that horrible, forgettable loss.
Worry Level: Mild
I say worry a mild level for the Boston Bruins because I don’t think they will fall to second in the Atlantic. So, if they maintain the first seed, they aren’t an immediate problem for Toronto come April. Hopefully, maybe a wildcard might knock them out (hello, last year’s Lightning) and they won’t even be a problem at all.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Toronto Maple Leafs leave tomorrow for what will be two of the most important games of the year. And the Tampa Bay Lightning should prove no easy defeat. The team rode their 11 game winning streak all the way through to Sin City.
That game? Was not too pretty. The Lightning lost 5-3 to the Golden Knights, and looked to bounce back in the desert against the Coyotes.
That uh, that didn’t go their way either. A 7-3 loss to the Coyotes sends the Lightning home on a pretty bad loss. They look to face the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, both teams looking to bounce back from rough losses.
Worry Level: High
Any Toronto Maple Leafs fan should be worried about the Tampa Bay Lightning. They’re the Leafs likely first round opponent, and so we should be very worried about them. Last year’s team could have made a good series with Tampa, and this year’s team I’m not too sure about. It’ll be an interesting ride for sure.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers are really the most important team to watch. They are the team closest to the Leafs in the standings, and right now they have a game in hand. So, every game counts right now. If I could pick one team that causes Toronto the most worry? It’s the Panthers.
The last week has not been kind to the Panthers. A bad loss to the Oilers followed up by two wins in California led the Panthers to Los Angeles.
Even in LA, Trevor Moore is still helping the Leafs. The Panthers ended up losing that game 5-4, and went into Vegas yesterday looking for a win. That, like the rest of our division, did not go well.
Next. Leafs Fans Should Cheer for Tampa. dark
The Panthers ended up losing that 5-3. They roll into Arizona looking for a win on Tuesday.
Worry Level: Extremely High
Worry about Florida. Always worry about Florida.