The Toronto Maple Leafs have an impressive record of 6-3-0 in the nine games since returning from the NHL's two-week break for the Four Nations Faceoff tournament, despite not playing well at all. They sit two points behind the Florida Panthers for first in the Atlantic Division.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Panthers on Thursday night in a crucial game for both teams. It should feel like a playoff game and be treated as such. The Leafs need to win Thursday's game. According to Leafs head coach Craig Berube, defenseman Chris Tanev is Day-to-Day and could be a game-time decision. Having him return to the lineup would be a plus for the Leafs.
Despite the positive results for the Leafs since the break, they only have three regulation wins, are 31st in expected goals, and 26th in 5v5 save-percentage. It has been their power play that is keeping them afloat. The Leafs have nine power-play goals since the break, and as of Wednesday morning, that is the second-most in the NHL in that timeframe.
(Stats from MoneyPuck.com)
Seeing the Leafs having a productive power play after it looked horrible for the whole first half of the season is a pleasant surprise, but they need to get back to scoring more while playing 5v5. Hopefully, they can figure out a way to produce goals on the power play and at even strength as the season winds down and we get closer to the NHL playoffs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are being saved by their power-play
It is crazy how much Tanev has meant to the success of this year's Leafs team, but he has been missed dearly since his injury. Knowing that he is close to returning is a positive for the Leafs going forward. They will need him in the playoffs.
The Leafs will need their power play to be clicking come playoff time as well. It is an area of their game that has haunted them in years past during the playoffs. Everyone knows that the ice feels smaller come playoff time, especially when playing 5v5. The Leafs need to be able to take advantage of games and even take over games using their power play.
With 18 games remaining, the Leafs have little time to try and iron out every issue they have, but the hope is that they will enter the playoffs with a fully healthy team including Tanev, Max Pacioretty, and Jani Hakanpaa. When fully healthy, the Leafs have a deep team, especially with the additions of Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton. It would be nice to see the Leafs healthy and firing on all cylinders (including on the power play) come playoff time.
As for tonight, it will be Bobrovsky vs Stolarz, and the Leafs will need a victory to to avoid a four-point deficit in the division race.