Their seven games, which begin at home on Tuesday against New Jersey, and their five away games are against either frantic teams hoping to make the playoffs, enduring rivals who never back down, or two teams who might face the Florida Panthers in the first round.
According to Tankathon, the Leafs’ strength of schedule, calculated from the cumulative points percentage of their opponents, places them in the middle of the NHL pack at.559.
That doesn’t explain the Devils’ three-game winning streak in their quest for a wildcard berth following their coaching change, Washington’s one-point lead in the standings, the Leafs’ years-long frustration in Buffalo, where they will play on Saturday, and their total of four games against the division-leading Florida Panthers and the unflappable Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The Leafs need to get back sore-ankled Mitch Marner in those twelve games to establish a defensive hierarchy, a starting goalie for Game 1, and to shore up their inconsistent special teams.
The hopes in the Toronto room were raised a little early on Sunday that a late push may pull in one or both to skip them in the first round for a wild card after Florida lost three straight before Sunday, Boston two, and the Leafs defeated Edmonton.
However, the Cats prevailed against the Flyers, the Leafs lost 2-1 to Carolina, and unless the Leafs make a lot of noise this week, Boston and Florida simply need to split their next two games against each other or comeback.
