Most encouraging recent events with Leafs, not in any particular order.
1. Extended strong play of top line. All three keep getting better. Bozak must be among the top 10 under-appreciated guys in the league. No one can accuse him or Kessel of sitting on their newly minted contracts. Good stuff.
2. Second line showing signs of life (keeping Kuli on there instead of Clarkson).
3. Less gambling and fewer gaffs (not counting shorties) by the kids Gardiner and Rielly.
4. Solid role players, Gleason, Bodie, finally Ranger, and McClement as usual.
5. Bernier back into a groove.
Overall the Leafs are third in the conference, and third in goals for, yet they are -3 overall compared to the Pens +45 and the Bruins -61, who are the only teams to have scored more goals for them. So the Leafs offensive in among the elite in the conference. Since its pretty unanimous that Bernier is looking like an emerging solid #1 goalie, it is clearly team defense in front of him (and not just the d-men) that is the issue, including penalty killing. On the upside there, I think it's been improved since Gleason came onboard. I think Gardiner and Rielly are finally starting to get the defensive side of their game better, and there are some nice signs from Ranger. Team defensive can only be helped by getting Bolland back in the line-up, and the lines finally structured properly, with him Mason and Clarkson as the third unit. I'm actually kind of liking the 7 d-men, with McClement, Bodie and a swing man on that 4th line. Makes it a lot more interesting and takes some pressure off the D. Carlyle has done a nice job of distributing the minutes of late. Now we just need Bolland, stay healthy and I think we could make some real noise in the playoffs. We ARE getting closer fans...