Well don’t look now Leafs Nation but your Toronto Maple Leafs keep climbing the standings and sit just below the top-seeded Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division by points-percentage.
In fact, as I write this, no team in the NHL has more points than the Toronto Maple Leafs 31 (15-6-1).
Indeed, the Leafs are soaring, mostly due, perhaps, to the goaltending prowess of the absolutely adorable Jack Campbell, but they are also getting it done both on the PP and PK and haven’t had to heavily rely on their scoring to make up for lackluster defensive efforts. Moreover, the defense looks rejuvenated with the additions of Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren, who have both proved to be reliable contributors.
Toronto faces Anaheim on Sunday to conclude their four-game road trip which, thus far, has resulted in a shutout of the Islanders, a beat-down of the Kings and, most recently, a 4-1 drubbing of the Sharks on Friday. For a team that started 2-4-1 and have since gone 13-2, that is quite the dramatic turnaround. The naysayers have certainly grown quieter than the first five minutes of a period at the ACC (damn you suits and your affinity for lobster!).
But the ultimate goal is the Stanley Cup and to reach said goal the Toronto Maple Leafs have to prevail after the regular season is long gone. In the way are the rival Atlantic division opponents, featuring the likes of the dreaded Bruins; Stanley Cup champions Lightning; and the formidable Florida Panthers. No, things are not going to be easy this year.
Here is a breakdown of the Atlantic division with some random observations from an author who once thought that Luca Caputi was a viable top-six option. So take it for what it’s worth: