Can the Leafs win the Atlantic (10-1-1 in last 12)?

[KaseMeOutside]

No this is a typical leafs hot streak, they will normalize again soon enough

 

[MMC]

Yeah sure they can, I think Boston and Montreal are overrated and Detroit is extremely overrated.

 

[AcerComputer]

Let's just make the playoffs.

 

[sheed36]

Not so sure that they will collapse per say, of course they will have a slumps but this team is very different mentally than the last few yrs.



thats true but the Leafs have been a decent road team, they are 5-2-3

Yeah but 17 of their next 22 games on the road after their next 2 at home is a very tough stretch for any team. Back to back road games and 3 games in 4 nights on the road plus adding in the travel will eventually take it's toll. It's gonna be a tough stretch for the Leafs coming up so we'll see how they handle it.

 

[Blufreezy]

Why is every post on here about the leafs? Why is there no "will the Boston Bruins make the playoffs?" Threads? Talk about something different for once.

 

[bobbyt911]

No this is a typical leafs hot streak, they will normalize again soon enough

thing is the Leafs normal isn't much below their play of late

Yeah but 17 of their next 22 games on the road after their next 2 at home is a very tough stretch for any team. Back to back road games and 3 games in 4 nights on the road plus adding in the travel will eventually take it's toll. It's gonna be a tough stretch for the Leafs coming up so we'll see how they handle it.

if they go .500 on the next 17 road games they should be in the top 3

 

[Spring in Fialta]

They've played a lot more at home than on the road. Unless they turn out to be a great road team, they'll cool down.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Yeah but 17 of their next 22 games on the road after their next 2 at home is a very tough stretch for any team. Back to back road games and 3 games in 4 nights on the road plus adding in the travel will eventually take it's toll. It's gonna be a tough stretch for the Leafs coming up so we'll see how they handle it.

Meh, most teams will have stretches like that at some point in the season. Montreal for example will finish their season with 16 road games in the final 27 games. Not as bad, but still

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

I think they might be a decent road team, thankfully.

But, we'll find out if that's the case or not.

Really hoping things are different finally.

 

[CellarDweller0]

The question is : "When will the Leafs have their seasonal epic collapse ? In the regular season or in the first round ?"

While we are all waiting for it in Leafland I pray to the Hockey Gods that this is the year they break that trend.

 

[Drew311]

Nope.

Even if Boston isn't better (and that's an if), Tampa Bay, Detroit and Montreal all are.

What makes Montreal better than Toronto? The Leafs are outscoring them by a wide margin and they have only let up 3 more goals with two games in hand.

 

[Never]

Let's wait until about game 55. That's when Toronto usually falls off a cliff.

 

[sheed36]

thing is the Leafs normal isn't much below their play of late



if they go .500 on the next 17 road games they should be in the top 3

Yes if they can go .500 or better in these 17 upcoming road games they will be in great shape for the rest of the season.

 

[CH25]

I think they make the playoffs as a wildcard and get bounced in the first round. We all know how the Leafs are. They'll go 8-1 at some point but will also go 1-8. That is guaranteed.

 

[hatterson]

Doubt it. Even though their possession is better, it's still bottom 5 with top-5 PDO, not a recipe for long-term success

They were 1st in 12-13, 4th last year and are again 4th this year.

PDO regressing towards 1 for all teams is a myth and 101.9 is not so significantly high that you have to assume it comes back down given their history.

 

[A1LeafNation]

If the Leafs can start outshooting their opponents on a regular basis and keep up with their play, then yes.

As they play right now, no!

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Don't worry, the traditional collapse at the end of the year is still coming. The Leafs never fail to do that, last season they were convincingly on a playoff position at the trade deadline but then they went ahead and collapsed and missed the playoffs.

How many times can you name that they have collapsed at the end of the season?

 

[alg363636]

I don't think anyone's gonna unseat Tampa unless something drastic happens. None of Boston, Detroit, Montreal or Toronto are good enough.

As for those four, any of them could end up anywhere, TBH. I think the next half of the season will show a lot. Toronto has to get past their annual second-half of the season meltdown. Montreal and Detroit have to prove they're not over-achieving and they won't come back to Earth. Boston just got Chara back and hopefully Krejci soon so we'll see if they're mediocre record is a result of injuries or actually represents their talent. Plus I'm sure we'll see things at the trade deadline.

So could the Leafs win the division? I mean sure, technically anyone in the Atlantic could. Do I think they will? No. But, right now it's anyone's game.

 

[RiceCooker]

In a shocking turn of events....the Panthers win the Atlantic.

 

[sharks9]

What makes Montreal better than Toronto? The Leafs are outscoring them by a wide margin and they have only let up 3 more goals with two games in hand.

Better defense and goaltending.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

They can, also possible they can't.

 

[Blufreezy]

How many times can you name that they have collapsed at the end of the season?

Give him a few minutes while he searches Google to know how to respond to you.

 

[geometrically*]

I cant see the leafs finishing ahead aheah of the bolts, habs, wings and maybe the bruins.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

How many times can you name that they have collapsed at the end of the season?

In the past 3 years they've ended their season in an epic collapse.

 

[Paradoc]

Better defense and goaltending.

Leafs have better offense, coaching, special teams, better depth players.