The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, maintaining their position atop Tampa Bay for the third and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
Initially, the Leafs seemed assured of the third spot, but the situation changed as Florida stumbled and Tampa surged. Currently, the Leafs hold a four-point advantage over Tampa with a game in hand and six games remaining. Furthermore, they have two games in hand over Florida and trail by only five points. Securing home ice advantage for the opening round is crucial for their postseason prospects.
With just over a week left in the regular season, the Leafs stand a good chance of achieving their goal. However, their maximum potential points tally is 109, whereas Boston currently sits at 107 points with four games left. Given Boston’s tie-breaker advantage, the Leafs would require Boston to lose all remaining games to clinch the Atlantic Title, an unlikely scenario.
Despite being out of contention for the top overall spot, the Leafs are still in the running for the President’s Trophy, with the Rangers holding 108 points and five games left.
Their upcoming schedule is demanding, with four crucial games in a week against Pittsburgh, New Jersey (twice), and Detroit. Subsequently, they will face Florida and Tampa Bay to close out the season.
Criticism is levied at the congested schedule, with six games scheduled in ten days to end the season, prompting frustration towards those responsible for the arrangement.
Although the team is regaining health, they are still missing Timothy Liljegren, whose absence severely affects their defensive capabilities. The current defensive lineup lacks adept puck-moving abilities, highlighting the importance of Liljegren’s return.
In the upcoming week, the Leafs anticipate Liljegren’s return and eagerly await the playoffs.