Do the Leafs catch the Bruins for 2nd and HOME ICE

[BlueForever75]

The Leafs currently sit 3 pts behind Boston for home ice in the playoffs. Hypothetically they are 4 pts out because tying them in pts Boston would get home ice due to head to head match ups and Boston having the advantage. So the Leafs have to make up 4 pts in 16 games. Is it possible? What you all think? Below are the remaining schedules for both teams:

Toronto Schedule:

Boston Schedule:

Click to read more...

 

[ShaneFalco]

Not the way Boston is currently playing

 

[rosscow]

No chance.

 

[Sypher04]

First tie breaker is ROW. So we only need to close a 3 point gap.

It's definitely possible, but the Bruins do need to lose some.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

So the Leafs have to make up 4 pts in 16 games. Is it possible?

Beating them would have helped.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

It will all get decided next week. The Bruins have an extremely difficult and physical week ahead. The Leafs have a walk in the park. If Leafs are head by 3 points by next Sunday i think we should be able to hold it rest of way.

 

[The CyNick]

Seems unlikely. Really too bad we wasted so many points on poor backup goaltending and dragging heels on Nylander. Hopefully it doesn't cost us in the playoffs.

 

[ACC1224]

Playoff Race - Fight for Home Ice

Already asked and answered.

 

[TOGuy14]

Not the way Boston is currently playing

Boston has been unsustainably hot for a prolonged period of time and we have been mediocre and yet they are only 3 points ahead with a bunch of extra loser points and have a far lower goal diff.

Absolutely possible for us to catch them by end of season.

 

[AllDay28]

iunno man.. 3 pts and thats an awful lot of games. not much can happen, especially when its a 3 point difference and like 22 games left.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Not the way Boston is currently playing

They're not gonna be hot this way forever.

 

[Buds17]

I'm not overly optimistic about it, even if just for the fact that we're chasing right now. I'd like to think it would've absolutely helped to have done better in the season series against Boston, but last season would disagree with that. It's not an impossible task by any means though, and I'd be thrilled to be underestimating them on this.

 

[ShaneFalco]

It will all get decided next week. The Bruins have an extremely difficult and physical week ahead. The Leafs have a walk in the park. If Leafs are head by 3 points by next Sunday i think we should be able to hold it rest of way.

That's when they tend to play the worst

 

[ToneDog]

Seven games vs teams in playoff races (Columbusx3, Pens, Jets, Isles and Wild) gives me hope, but we have to do our part by beating weaker teams.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Boston has been unsustainably hot for a prolonged period of time and we have been mediocre and yet they are only 3 points ahead with a bunch of extra loser points and have a far lower goal diff.

Absolutely possible for us to catch them by end of season.

True!
I'd like to see the lines sorted and start gearing up for playoffs once Naz is back

 

[Loosie]

Yes.

 

[Hockey Crazy]

Boston has the tougher schedule, but neither is crazy difficult. It will be crazy if it comes down to the last game against Tampa and they rest all their guys...

 

[BlueForever75]

Of the two schedules Toronto definitely has the easier one. Games of significant for the Leafs against tough opponents (In playoffs or fighting for playoffs) I have it at 6 (at NYI, at MON, CAR, at NASH, TB (2).

If you look at Boston its much tougher with 9 games under the same analysis (CLB (3, 1 at CLB), at PIT, at WIN, at NYI, TB (2, 1 at TB), at MIN.

If Boston wins 6 of those contests against contenders and lose 3. And by comparison Toronto wins 4 of the 6 against same opposition. It will be close depending on what happens with others games on their schedules.

I still think Toronto catches them, and last game of season between TB vs BOS will be the decider. My prediction.

 

[Mad hatter]

With this streak they’ve been on, 17 games I believe, 9 overtime and 3 one goal games. So I can’t see that luck continuing the rest of the season. They’ll have there slip up yet and we’ll catch them I think, to many OT and one goal games to sustain it.

 

[8816 others]

I'm putting all HNIC games against weaker teams as a loss. They love to show up for the big show.

 

[Nooodles]

iunno man.. 3 pts and thats an awful lot of games. not much can happen, especially when its a 3 point difference and like 22 games left.

I get the sarcasm but it's Boston we are talking bout. They always win.

Whereas, our beloved Leafs shit the bed against the Coyotes who won like 7 games at home this year. One of those were against us.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Calgary Flames: 17 games left; 10 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.516
St. Louis Blues: 17 games left; 8 home, 9 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.517
Buffalo Sabres: 17 games left; 9 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.522
Colorado Avalanche: 16 games left; 10 home, 6 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.529
New York Rangers: 17 games left; 6 home, 11 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.531
Dallas Stars: 17 games left; 10 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.533
San Jose Sharks: 16 games left; 10 home, 6 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.533
Arizona Coyotes: 17 games left; 9 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.534
Edmonton Oilers: 17 games left; 10 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.534
Vancouver Canucks: 16 games left; 11 home, 5 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.535
New York Islanders: 17 games left; 8 home, 9 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.546
Anaheim Ducks: 16 games left; 9 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.547
Los Angeles Kings: 17 games left; 10 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.549
Chicago Blackhawks: 16 games left; 8 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.552
New Jersey Devils: 16 games left; 7 home, 9 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.552
Nashville Predators: 14 games left; 7 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.552
Pittsburgh Penguins: 17 games left; 10 home, 7 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.552
Vegas Golden Knights: 15 games left; 7 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.554
Florida Panthers: 17 games left; 7 home, 10 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.557
Toronto Maple Leafs: 17 games left; 7 home, 10 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.559
Boston Bruins: 17 games left; 7 home, 10 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.564
Montréal Canadiens: 16 games left; 7 home, 9 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.571
Columbus Blue Jackets: 17 games left; 6 home, 11 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.571
Tampa Bay Lightning: 16 games left; 7 home, 9 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.575
Philadelphia Flyers: 16 games left; 8 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.580
Winnipeg Jets: 17 games left; 7 home, 10 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.581
Detroit Red Wings: 17 games left; 7 home, 10 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.585
Ottawa Senators: 16 games left; 8 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.587
Carolina Hurricanes: 17 games left; 9 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.591
Minnesota Wild: 16 games left; 8 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.594
Washington Capitals: 16 games left; 8 home, 8 road; Opp. Pts. %: 0.598

Similar schedules.
NHL strength of schedule for rest of 2018-19 season

 

[Trapper]

Will they? Nobody knows.
Can they? Yes.

 

[BayStreetBully]

It’s all up in the air. 3 points is nothing in the context of 16 remaining games. But we’re better off using the remainder of the season to prepare for the playoffs. Do that, and 1 extra game on home ice will hardly matter.

 

[Morbo]

I'm going to go with a solid maybe on that one.