Leafs chances for making the playoffs this year...

[Corn Flake]

my prediction:

Atlantic:

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Toronto
4. Tampa
5. Ottawa
6. Montreal
7. Florida
8. Buffalo

So the top 3 makes the playoffs along with the top 3 in the other division.  Worst case the Leafs finish 6th.

 

[Peter D.]

While I remain skeptical on this team as a whole over an 82-game season, I can't see Montreal replicating the season they had last year and I'm not as bullish on Ottawa.  I do see Tampa Bay having the potential to make things interesting, but with the expectation that Montreal and Ottawa fall back and that Florida and Buffalo aren't going to be very good, the Leafs should have a pretty good chance of finishing top 3 in the division.

With all that being said, I would not be surprised if the Leafs fell back to the pack similar to how I expect Montreal and Ottawa to.

 

[Champ Kind]

my prediction:

Atlantic:

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Toronto
4. Tampa
5. Ottawa
6. Montreal
7. Florida
8. Buffalo

So the top 3 makes the playoffs along with the top 3 in the other division.  Worst case the Leafs finish 6th.

Mostly agree with you here.  The exception being that Detroit will surpise by how poorly they play.  Just my hunch, but they won't be the world-beater they're being made out to be.  Maybe the product of residual mystique....

 

[Highlander]

Detroit wins cup. The Monster wins the Vesina, GM makes cars. ;D

 

[93forever]

Leafs should make the playoffs with no difficulties.  They are a better team now than at the end of the season.  I do not see Montreal being that good but Ottawa should be better so the Leafs would either finish 3rd or 4th on the division.  At worse the Leafs get a wild card although I do think the Leafs can stay close to Detroit and Ottawa in the standings.

 

[princedpw]

While I remain skeptical on this team as a whole over an 82-game season, I can't see Montreal replicating the season they had last year and I'm not as bullish on Ottawa.  I do see Tampa Bay having the potential to make things interesting, ...

Why Tampa?  They lost LeCavalier.  Marty St Louis has to get old some time, right?  Did they gain something to overcome that?

 

[Kin]

While I remain skeptical on this team as a whole over an 82-game season, I can't see Montreal replicating the season they had last year and I'm not as bullish on Ottawa.  I do see Tampa Bay having the potential to make things interesting, ...

Why Tampa?  They lost LeCavalier.  Marty St Louis has to get old some time, right?  Did they gain something to overcome that?

They did sign Filppula, draft Drouin and will have a full season of Bishop in net.

 

[bustaheims]

They did sign Filppula, draft Drouin and will have a full season of Bishop in net.

Yeah. They definitely have potential to make things really interesting. While I don't expect them to make the playoffs, if Filppula can come close to replacing what Lecavalier brought and Drouin not only sticks, but contributes at a decent pace, they'll very much be in the hunt - and if they can improve their defensive play, they could be a very dangerous team with Bishop likely stabilizing their goaltending situation.

 

[Big Daddy]

So let me see if I understand the playoff format correctly.  If the playoffs started today would the matchups be:

Eastern Conf.
Pittsburg(1) vs Detroit(8)
Tampa(3)    vs Montreal(4)
NewYork(5) vs Philadelphia(6)
Boston(2)    vs Toronto(7)

Western Conf.
Anaheim(1)  vs Dallas(8)
Chicago(3)  vs Colorado(4)
San Jose(5)  vs LosAng(6)
St. Louis(2)  vs Minnesota(7)

Is this correct?

 

[bustaheims]

So let me see if I understand the playoff format correctly.  If the playoffs started today would the matchups be:

Eastern Conf.
Pittsburg(1) vs Detroit(8)
Tampa(3)    vs Montreal(4)
NewYork(5) vs Philadelphia(6)
Boston(2)    vs Toronto(7)

Western Conf.
Anaheim(1)  vs Dallas(8)
Chicago(3)  vs Colorado(4)
San Jose(5)  vs LosAng(6)
St. Louis(2)  vs Minnesota(7)

Is this correct?

The match ups are right, but the whole 1 through 8 thing is no longer relevant. It's all about the divisions now. 1 team from each divisional group makes to the conference final, and the first round match ups in each grouping work out like this:

Pittsburgh vs Detroit
New York vs Philadelphia

Boston vs Toronto
Tampa Bay vs Montreal

Anaheim vs Dallas
San Jose vs LA

St. Louis vs Minnesota
Chicago vs Colorado

 

[iwas11in67]

March is a brutal month for the Leafs.
15 games in 31 days.
4 back to backs.
5 game road trip starting on the west coast.

 

[L K]

March is a brutal month for the Leafs.
15 games in 31 days.
4 back to backs.
5 game road trip starting on the west coast.

The first 5 games back from the Olympic break set the tone for the stretch run though. 
@NYI, @Montreal, vs. Columbus, @NYR, vs. Philadelphia

All 5 games are against teams tied/beneath them in the standings and 4 of the 5 have a real impact on the standings.  No back to backs in that stretch and not a lot of travel for any of the games.

 

[iwas11in67]

They'll need 3 or 4 wins in those first 5 games.

 

[Kin]

They'll need 3 or 4 wins in those first 5 games.

I'm pretty confident. The Leafs have a 32-22-6 record in must-win games and a 32-22-6 record in bellwether games.

 

[hockeyfan1]

If the playoffs were to be held today, the Leafs would play Boston.  What would their chances be of beating the Bruins this time?  Better, worse than last?

How about Tampa Bay or Montreal?

What does anyone think?  Any preferences and why?

 

[Deebo]

They'll need 3 or 4 wins in those first 5 games.

I'm pretty confident. The Leafs have a 32-22-6 record in must-win games and a 32-22-6 record in bellwether games.

Maybe your best post ever.

 

[nutman]

I cant see any reason why they cant take them first five. I can see a better ten game set than they just got finished with.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

March is a brutal month for the Leafs.
15 games in 31 days.
4 back to backs.
5 game road trip starting on the west coast.

So Reimer's playing 4 games in a month? Hope he's up to it.

 

[ZBBM]

They'll need 3 or 4 wins in those first 5 games.

I'm pretty confident. The Leafs have a 32-22-6 record in must-win games and a 32-22-6 record in bellwether games.

Maybe your best post ever.

I cant see any reason why they cant take them first five. I can see a better ten game set than they just got finished with.

It's said that great writers always have one specific reader in mind when they work.

 

[moon111]

Detroit, Ottawa, NJ, Carolina all lost.  Good stuff.
Sportclubstats.com has them up to 70%.  That's an amazing turn around.  Hopefully Detroit, N.J., Carolina continue to slide.