LEAFS GDT Atlantic Division - Race to the 1st

[pdson]

Playoffs are a different game and players on both teams feed off the atmosphere. So I think it would be better to start the series in Tampa and more importantly have game 7 there, if necessary.

I think this is about the dumbest thing I have ever read

 

[mclaren55]

Lets get this thing going....

As of Mar 26, 2025 all of leafs, bolts and panthers have 11 games remaining
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Leafs 11 games: 1 B2B - 4-Home and 7-Away games

1. at Sharks
2. at Kings
3. at Ducks
4. vs Panthers (Home)
5. vs CBJ (Home)
6. at Panthers
7. at Bolts (B2B)
8. vs Habs (Home)
9. at Canes
10. at Sabres
11. vs RedWings (Home)

Panthers 11 games: 2 B2Bs; 6-Home and 5-Away games

1. vs Utah (Home)
2. vs Habs (Home)
3. at Habs
4. at Leafs (B2B)
5. at Sens
6. at RedWings
7. vs Leafs (Home)
8. vs RedWings (Home)
9. vs Sabres (Home)
10. vs Rangers (Home)
11. at Bolts (B2B)

Bolts 11 games (no B2Bs); 6-Home and 5-Away games

1. vs Utah (Home)
2. vs NYI (Home)
3. at NYI
4. at Sens
5. at Sabres
6. at Rangers
7. vs Leafs (Home)
8. vs RedWings (Home)
9. vs Sabres (Home)
10. vs Panthers (Home)
11. at Rangers

Who do you guys think has easier schedule down the road? I feel like bolts have the easier schedule with relatively easy teams with exception of two games against Leafs and Panthers; followed by Panthers with same "tough" teams being Leafs and Bolts but have two back to backs and one of them is against bolts and the other against the Leafs

Leafs get 2 x panthers (once when they are on B2B); then leafs play bolts when leafs are B2B and also play Kings and Canes

Leafs have a relatively tougher schedule down the road.

Can the Leafs finish first in the atlantic? What you folks think?

If they win the games they should, and squeak 1 or 2 out of Panthers/Lightning/Canes we should be in decent position. We have a pretty good road record this year so hopefully they maintain.

 

[Racer88]

If they win the games they should, and squeak 1 or 2 out of Panthers/Lightning/Canes we should be in decent position. We have a pretty good road record this year so hopefully they maintain.

If we have to squeak out 1 or 2 out of those 3 teams then we probably don’t deserve to be in first. We should have a strong expectation to get at least 2 out of those teams

 

[mclaren55]

If we have to squeak out 1 or 2 out of those 3 teams then we probably don’t deserve to be in first. We should have a strong expectation to get at least 2 out of those teams

I think if they win 8-9 games out of a 11 that would be "deserving" of 1st, no?

 

[dangomon]

Playoffs are a different game and players on both teams feed off the atmosphere. So I think it would be better to start the series in Tampa and more importantly have game 7 there, if necessary.

Obviously in the playoffs it all resets, but if we're facing Tampa we absolutely want home ice. Their home/road splits are crazy to the point they're a lottery team on the road (79 point pace)

 

[Gary Nylund]

Too bad we lost to NSH last week, those 2 points would be nice to have right about now. Then again, could say the same for a number of games earlier this season ...

 

[Evilhomer]

Too bad we lost to NSH last week, those 2 points would be nice to have right about now. Then again, could say the same for a number of games earlier this season ...

Florida could say the same about losing in regulation to Montreal and the Islanders a couple of weeks ago. Same goes for Tampa.

 

[The Shadow]

Too bad we lost to NSH last week, those 2 points would be nice to have right about now. Then again, could say the same for a number of games earlier this season ...

What matters now is they need to be playing very well heading into the end here and focus on all the details

They really do have a team that could go to the cup final if everyone is playing well.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Too bad we lost to NSH last week, those 2 points would be nice to have right about now. Then again, could say the same for a number of games earlier this season ...

And I'm sure both Tampa and Florida fans are saying the same thing about games they 'should have won'.

 

[AvroArrow]

Panthers schedule is so easy to finish the season, they probably finish the division in 1st. It'll really just come down to the 2 head to head matchups, that's a potential 8 point swing if 1 team can win both in regulation.

 

[Nineteen67]

There is almost no scenario where you want to be the road team in a game 7.

Do you think game 7 last year would have been a better atmosphere and more energy in Toronto or Boston.
I think it’d be the same this year if they were to play Tampa.

 

[Jojalu]

Do you think game 7 last year would have been a better atmosphere and more energy in Toronto or Boston.
I think it’d be the same this year if they were to play Tampa.

I think having the ability to have last change and not having the longer change twice is a big deal.

As for the atmosphere, it is always better to play in front of a building that is 95-100% cheering for you.

Who cares if the Bos crowd is going crazy for the Bruins? TB might be a little more evenly split but it's nonsense to suggest that the best place to play a game 7 is on the road. In any sport. In all of history

 

[Gary Nylund]

Florida could say the same about losing in regulation to Montreal and the Islanders a couple of weeks ago. Same goes for Tampa.

NSH is worse than both those teams.

 

[Gary Nylund]

And I'm sure both Tampa and Florida fans are saying the same thing about games they 'should have won'.

You're right of course, and every team loses games like that, the best ones just do it less. IIRC we also lost this year to SJ and CHI who along with NSH are the bottom 3 teams in the standings as of today.

I just wish we were more consistent and won more of these "trap" games and had we done that, we'd be up there with the top teams chilling in maybe 3rd place overall with 1st place in the division all but locked up. Would be nice, and then maybe we'd be comparing the team with Washington, Dallas etc. instead of Florida and Tampa. But whatever, win two rounds and it won't matter. One can dream ...

 

[ACC1224]

I think having the ability to have last change and not having the longer change twice is a big deal.

As for the atmosphere, it is always better to play in front of a building that is 95-100% cheering for you.

Who cares if the Bos crowd is going crazy for the Bruins? TB might be a little more evenly split but it's nonsense to suggest that the best place to play a game 7 is on the road. In any sport. In all of history

Obviously you'd rather be at home. What does the bolded refer to?

 

[Gary Nylund]

What matters now is they need to be playing very well heading into the end here and focus on all the details

They really do have a team that could go to the cup final if everyone is playing well.

That's the theory. The pieces are there, but I'm not sure about the team. This team has a history of being less than the sum of it's parts in the playoffs, hopefully this year will be different. We'll see soon enough. GLG!!

 

[BertCorbeau]

Have the last 7 years really inspired you to believe they can get their job done in crunch time?

Because good for you

 

[egd27]

April 17th - Last day of Reg Season

Leafs will be in 2nd 1 point behind FLA and 1 point ahead of TBL

FLA has played 82 and TBL has one more against the NYR

A win against the lowly Red Wings will secure first place.......you all know the rest

 

[Evilhomer]

April 17th - Last day of Reg Season

Leafs will be in 2nd 1 point behind FLA and 1 point ahead of TBL

FLA has played 82 and TBL has one more against the NYR

A win against the lowly Red Wings will secure first place.......you all know the rest

I don't think it will come down to the last game. Like last season, I think it will be decided with 2 or 3 games left.

 

[Evilhomer]

Have the last 7 years really inspired you to believe they can get their job done in crunch time?

Because good for you

For me, it's less about the leafs and more about Florida and Tampa not being as good as they used to be (and in Florida's case, pretty shorthanded).

 

[Gary Nylund]

For me, it's less about the leafs and more about Florida and Tampa not being as good as they used to be (and in Florida's case, pretty shorthanded).

So instead of winning, we hope our opponents lose. Yup, considering how badly we've sucked at winning with this core, that does make a lot of sense.

 

[Evilhomer]

So instead of winning, we hope our opponents lose. Yup, considering how badly we've sucked at winning with this core, that does make a lot of sense.

That clearly isn't what I said, and certainly not what I meant. I think the Leafs will win the division because they will win enough games to do so, and unlike prior years they are not chasing teams having monster seasons. Saying that Florida and tampa are weaker than they have been in prior years is not saying "I hope they lose". They just aren't nearly as good as they used to be.

 

[Gabriel426]

The two back to back games will most likely determine the outcome of the division

 

[Jojalu]

Obviously you'd rather be at home. What does the bolded refer to?

Having your bench closer to the offensive zone where it becomes much easier to get hemmed in and more difficult for players to change.

It is a minor disadvantage but it is why home teams have their bench in or near the defensive zone twice a game

 

[ACC1224]

Having your bench closer to the offensive zone where it becomes much easier to get hemmed in and more difficult for players to change.

It is a minor disadvantage but it is why home teams have their bench in or near the defensive zone twice a game

The bench is the same for both teams.