Maple Leafs and Penguins Are Making the Last Week of the NHL Season Interesting

The Toronto Maple Leafs need just a single point to clinch the playoffs.

Or technically, they can back in when Detroit or Washington next fails to win a point. Doesn't matter though, because the Toronto Maple Leafs are not going to fail to register a point in their next seven games.

They have made the playoffs, it's just not official.

Toronto and Tampa are taking the last Atlantic spot and the first Wild Card spot - the only question is in which order.

Maple Leafs and Penguins Are Making the Last Week of the NHL Season Interesting

The last playoff spot? That is suddenly getting interesting.

The NHL had a pretty disappointing playoff race this season with almost no drama.

For a while it didn't seem like anyone in the East was interested in that last spot.

Then Philadelphia went into the tank, opening the door for the Islanders and Capitals, even though they are each just 5-5 in their last ten.

The Red Wings are 4-6, also showing they don't want it very badly. Since they employ the player I despise most in the NHL, James Reimer, I am hoping they fail to make it due to Karma.

Both Buffalo and New Jersey could be making a run for the final spot, but they are about as disinterested as Detroit and Philly.

Only the Penguins are playing well at the right time, having gone 6-2-2 over their last ten, and have won 3 in a row. Yes, they have to jump over three more teams, but the Penguins appear to have the best shot at the last playoff spot.

What a great story it would be too. The Penguins have an elite roster and should be much higher in the standings, but they had a run of some of the worst power-play luck in the NHL for a while, and that almost cost them the playoffs.

Crosby is playing like a Hart Trophy finalist (though Matthews should be the unanimous winner) and Erik Karlsson remains ridiculously good at making his team better at 5v5.

The Penguins have the NHL's best GM to go along with a star studded, Stanley Cup winning roster, and so it's no surprise that they are making a late run.

Kyle Dubas was screwed out of running the team he built, so it's nice to see him finally having some success with his new team. There isn't an NHL fan alive that wouldn't want to see Crosby in the playoffs in what has to be one of his last elite seasons, so you get the feeling most people are cheering for them.

Except for the New York Rangers that is. Their opening round opponent could be Philadelphia, Washington or the Islanders, which is like getting a bye into the second round.

However, potentially facing Toronto, Tampa or Pittsburgh is completely different story. It's going to be a great finish to the season and really fun to find out what happens.