The Toronto Maple Leafs are only a couple of close losses to the Carolina Hurricanes away from being the NHL's best team over the period between January 18th and last Saturday when they beat the Oilers.
Now, this is a completely arbitrary start/end date, but it's a third of a season and shows that the Leafs can be a top team in the NHL - when they get league average goaltending, and lead the NHL in scoring.
But those two things are not exactly sustainable, and that is why they aren't the top team overall. However, if they hadn't left over 20 points on the table by losing to Chicago, Columbus, Arizona, San Jose, Philadelphia and Anaheim, they might be.
They also might be had they traded for a goalie - so being in their current position is their own fault.
And it's not a good position to be in because even though they have more or less guaranteed themselves a playoff spot, their path through the playoffs is insane.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Path Through the Playoffs Is Insane
The most points the Leafs can finish with are 111 - that's if they go 11-0 to close out the season.
Boston (at the time of writing this) is at 99 points and can get to 115 if they win every game for the rest of the season, but they only need 12 points to eliminate the Leafs from winning the Division. Time is running out for the Leafs to catch Boston, and Bruins points or Leafs lost points that add up to 12 will eliminate the Leafs.
By losing out on the Division title, the Leafs guarantee themselves a first-round date against either Boston or Florida, two of the only teams in the NHL that are for-sure better than they are.
It might actually be better for Tampa to catch the Leafs (and it is now a real possibility) and have the Leafs open up against New York or Carolina, two teams I think are far easier to beat than Boston or Florida, but probably not by much, if at all.
Assuming the Leafs beat Florida, they'd play Boston and then have to play New York or Carolina, barring upsets. That's a gauntlet and a half.
And then waiting on the other side could be a juggernaut like the Oilers - probably the NHL's best team if they get any goaltending - or last year's cup winner, or Dallas, or Colorado.
It seems crazy. Now, maybe there will be some upsets and it will be easier, but by losing out on the Atlantic Division Title - now all but official - the Leafs made their own path through the playoffs extremely difficult.