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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Things We’re Missing Without Hockey Right Now

By Stephen Nixon

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: Kyle Clifford #73 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: Kyle Clifford #73 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

#5. Playoff Stretch

Every team had played anywhere between 68 and 71 games when the NHL stopped their season in March.

Therefore, there was that last stretch of hockey that is almost as fun as the playoffs still to be played. In the Eastern Conference, there were essentially five teams that were guaranteed a playoff spot: Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Then, there were six other teams that were jockeying for the last three spots: Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Florida Panthers.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans assumed that Toronto would make the playoffs, but with 12 games remaining in their season nothing was guaranteed. We’ve seen the Leafs fall off cliffs before, so you’re never completely optimistic about the result.

The Western Conference race was similar to the East, except it is even tighter. St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche are the only two teams in the Conference that looked locked for a playoff spot, while 10 teams fight for the final six spots.

With so many games and teams all in the playoff race, every night from March 1st to April 4th should have been must-watch TV.

The life-and-death of an NHL team’s playoff hope was not only in their own fate, but reliant upon so many other outcomes. Whether their rival won, lost or made it to overtime, there were three scenarios that could affect making the playoffs.

Scoreboard watching is so much fun during the end of the regular season, so that’s definitely a big piece we’re missing this year.

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