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Toronto Maple Leafs fail to clinch playoffs, will get another chance tonight

The Toronto Maple Leafs were hoping for a Columbus Blue Jackets loss, they didn't get it. They'll look to clinch tonight against Florida.
ByJames Tanner|
Mar 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi (11) shoots the puck past Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) scoring a goal during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Mar 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi (11) shoots the puck past Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) scoring a goal during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs could have clinched a playoff spot last night, but they did not.

Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will get a second chance to clinch their ninth straight playoff appearance (a record wich is currently the best in the entire NHL, since Boston is going to miss the Playoffs this year). Since this time it's up to them, I'm betting they do it, but they'll be in tough to do so.

The Leafs will host the Florida Panthers tonight and it's kind of a perfect storm. The Panthers are coming off two straight losses to the Montreal Canadiens, they are traveling, they are playing on back-to-back nights, and they are missing about half their roster.

Nico Sturm and Dmitry Kulikov are both injured, as is their best player Matthews Tkachuk. Aaron Ekblad is either an idiot or a cheater, as he's suspened for 20 games for PEDs.

So needless, to say, the Leafs will have an easier than usual chance to beat Florida and clinch a playoff spot.

Toronto Maple Leafs fail to clinch playoffs, will get another chance tonight

The Leafs have 94 points. Out of the teams who are not currently in a playoff spot, only one, the Columbus Blue Jackets, can finish higher than that. Their maximum point total is 95, and the Leafs hold the tie-breaker. Therefore, if the Leafs lose in OT at any time, or Columbus fails to get two points in any of their remaining games, the Leafs will clinch.

Last night, the Blue Jackets beat the Predators 8-4 and prolonged the slight chance that the Leafs could miss the playoffs. This is, however, just a technicality, as there is like a 99.9% chance that the Leafs won't lose all eight remaining games in regulation while Columbus wins all of theirs.

Something like that would be even more unlikely than say losing 11 straight games with a chance to move on to the next round. This is the Leafs we are talking about, so we won't be counting any chickens, as it were.

Tonight's goalie matchup will most likely be a preview of any playoff series between these two teams: Sergei Bobrovsky vs Anthony Stolarz. Stolraz is and should unquestionably be the Leafs game 1 starter and, frankly, I think he should play ever single game unless he's hurt or bombs.

Not only would a win tonight clinch a playoff spot, but it would put the Leafs four points up on Florida, and leave Tampa in second.

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