Could the Leafs miss the playoffs?

[Sens With Benefits]

With the recent slide and teams making up ground is it possible? Steve Dangle breaks it down and shows how history could be repeating itself during this latest slide. I don't think they will slide that much and Ottawa will probably slow down, but what can even be done?

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Posting a Steve Dangle video. That's a paddling.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Miss the playoffs? No of course not only a troll could suggest it.

Get obliterated in the first round? Almost a certainty.

 

[ffh]

18 wheeler.

 

[Sensatauro]

Well, now betting the house on Montreal tomorrow night, thanks "friend"

 

[leafsfan5]

missing the playoffs is next to impossible

They're not very good, though. Berube doesn't work for this team and the underlying numbers clearly show this. For all their flaws they should not be #27 in xGF% since December 1

 

[H2O]

No, they will make it comfortably.

 

[Ezpz]

Probably not, 10 points is a lot with 15ish games left. It's not realistic for them to go 0-16. It would take the Habs winning 5 in a row and the Leafs losing 5 in a row to 71 games each to be tied in points, but the Leafs would have a tiebreaker.

Columbus has dropped 3 in a row and may be out of energy.

But let's say one of those two do that, it would also require the Rags/Sens to maintain pace til the end of the season. Sens could theoretically pass the Leafs, being only 5 behind but the L10 telling a big story. Maybe the Rags with Miller could too.

It would be a great story though. Miss the playoffs only for Marner to walk after spending that much at the deadline. There would be a huge meltdown in Leafsland. Laughton has been a disaster.

It helps a little that the Leafs play the Rags, Bluejackets and habs before the end of the season.

But the Habs and sens are playing each other twice more. The sens are playing the bluejackets three more times. Too many point splits here unless the Sens sweep the jackets and the Habs sweep the sens. At the very least the bluejackets winning three times would probably stop the Sens from catching the Leafs and probably not be enough for the Bluejackets to catch the Leafs.

Let's all root for it. Panthers also play all the Leafs competitors in most of their remaining games so there's a chance the Panthers would fall behind the Leafs if the Habs/Sens/Rags caught up to the Leafs.

 

[PattyLafontaine]

Could they? It's mathematically possible. However, they're probably a 98+% probablility to be a playoff team.

 

[Ignatius]

I'm not worried about them making the playoffs but I would be very interested to consider who their preferred matchup would be between Florida, Tampa, and Ottawa? They would get outclassed by Tampa and straight up bullied by Florida or Ottawa.

 

[Frosty415]

idk how that idiot gets so much attention/credibility

 

[Sasha Orlov]

God I hate this guy

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

They will make the playoffs forsure… definitely wont make any noise in playoffs but they will most definitely be in the post season and it’ll end bad as always.

It’s the same song and dance every year

 

[tfwnogf]

They are winning the cup this year, so no. Also, Dangle is by far the most entertaining personality in hockey. Other teams can't compete.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I'm not worried about them making the playoffs but I would be very interested to consider who their preferred matchup would be between Florida, Tampa, and Ottawa? They would get outclassed by Tampa and straight up bullied by Florida or Ottawa.

Lowkey Washington. The tank for WC2 is on!

 

[winnipegger]

I watched last night's game and even though I was high on the leafs early in the season they look absolutely terrible. Matthews just straight up whiffs on shots that were 100% goals last year. Nylander is a flashy car with a crap engine. Marner is a baby who is disappearing as the games get tight. 8 or 9 years I've lost count, but it looks like nothing has changed.

 

[Craig Button]

Leafs should fall to the bottom wild card spot

 

[TCIH]

I'd be less concerned about missing the playoffs and more concerned about playing well. The cushion the Leafs have right now over 9+ is enough that they could limp into the playoffs despite poor form with relative ease. But what then?

In the past few weeks, Leafs fans and neutral commentators have given the Leafs credit for winning the game in spite of poor performances. They lauded the fact that Toronto has learned to "find a way to win" those games, which I do genuinely think is a great characteristic for a team. The problem with that, though, is that finding a way to win games in which you're the second best team is going to catch up to you sooner or later. It's not a reliable game plan. And now despite finding dogged success in the immediate wake of the 4-Nations Tournament (a five game winning streak), they are struggling heavily.

There's still time for Toronto to pick things up. But they have to lift off soon, because the runway is shrinking and shrinking.

They are winning the cup this year, so no. Also, Dangle is by far the most entertaining personality in hockey. Other teams can't compete.

I actually agree, I think he's great.

 

[Weltschmerz]

Not sure why everyone seems so depressed after that loss, wasn't even a blowout or anything, they lost 2 in a row, both close games and now it's like fire Berube.

 

[GlitchMarner]

No chance. This isn't remotely thread worthy. Why would one seriously question if a team with a ten point cushion in mid March will be a playoff team? If the team was young, that would be one thing. This team is tied for the longest playoff streak in the League.

The Leafs don't miss the playoffs. But they do lose early, and yes, they very well may do that again this year.

 

[Bruce Granville]

I'd be less concerned about missing the playoffs and more concerned about playing well. The cushion the Leafs have right now over 9+ is enough that they could limp into the playoffs despite poor form with relative ease. But what then?

In the past few weeks, Leafs fans and neutral commentators have given the Leafs credit for winning the game in spite of poor performances. They lauded the fact that Toronto has learned to "find a way to win" those games, which I do genuinely think is a great characteristic for a team. The problem with that, though, is that finding a way to win games in which you're the second best team is going to catch up to you sooner or later. It's not a reliable game plan. And now despite finding dogged success in the immediate wake of the 4-Nations Tournament (a five game winning streak), they are struggling heavily.

There's still time for Toronto to pick things up. But they have to lift off soon, because the runway is shrinking and shrinking.


I actually agree, I think he's great.

He’s the best Leafs fan.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Not sure why everyone seems so depressed after that loss, wasn't even a blowout or anything, they lost 2 in a row, both close games and now it's like fire Berube.

They have one regulation win in 7 games and are like 26th in xGF% over the last couple months. Goaltending is the only thing the team has been good at this season and has masked a thoroughly mediocre at best team.

Berube uses a chip and chase system that relies on elite forechecking, which the Leafs don’t have the personnel to pull off. It has destroyed their rush offense, which was a strength for the last decade. And there’s been no defensive improvements for this offensive neutering.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

They'll limp into the playoffs. Go down 3-1 in the first round. Roar back to force game seven and then lose in dramatic fashion.

This is the way.

 

[Some Other Flame]

 

[King Woodballs]

Could they? Yeah guess technically they could.
The odds are so remote however.
They are in.