So why is it impossible to catch Boston?

[Dekes For Days]

38-5-4. +83 Goal differential.

Yes, they are a great team. Great teams still lose sometimes, even to teams low in the standings.
Unfortunately, some people have a double standard where if the Leafs lose, they will incorrectly label it as "not showing up", and yet they'll still claim other teams "show up every night" when they lose the exact same to the exact same type of teams.

 

[egd27]

History of Boston vs Coyotes 19-3-1

History of Toronto vs Coyotes 6-14-1

Not really losing the exact same

 

[Burnie97]

I do wonder how long they can keep up the pace though... including playoffs.

It seems unlikely they'll keep this up. Few teams ever have.

When we've played them they don't feel like a juggernaut. They seem pretty beatable. No disrespect... they're clearly a very good team. Still hate them though.

Not saying Leafs will catch them at all but they could be 1 or 2 injuries away from spiraling too.

They had injuries to start the season but they've been pretty lucky since. Still a lot of season left.

Also their star guys are getting up there. Might Bite them later in the season.

 

[ponder]

It’s not realistic for us to catch the Bruins, because we’re SO far behind. The point percentage gap between us and Boston (85.1% vs 68.8%, a 16.3% gap) is way bigger than the gap between us and Buffalo (68.8% vs 56.4%, a 12.4% gap). Buffalo aren’t catching us, so we DEFINITELY aren’t catching the Bruins.

 

[Dekes For Days]

History of Boston vs Coyotes 19-3-1
History of Toronto vs Coyotes 6-14-1
Not really losing the exact same

Not only are those records against the Coyotes inaccurate, but not sure what you think franchise win-loss record against one team (specifically cherry-picked as the most disparate) has to do with anything being discussed.

Boston this season has lost to Arizona, Buffalo, Florida, Ottawa twice, got shutout by Martin Jones, etc.
Are losses like that "not showing up"? If so, Boston clearly doesn't "show up every night".

 

[meefer]

Doesn't matter if we catch them. We just have to beat them.

 

[Mess]

I think a more realistic question is can the Leafs hold off and stay ahead of Tampa Bay and keep home ice advantage in round #1.

Leafs still lost to TB last year despite game #7 at home and last change, but its still better than the alternative.

Tampa Bay is only 4 points behind with 2 games in hand.

This the battle I'm watching down the stretch most.

 

[Dreakmur]

Gain confidence!!

Nothing they do in the regular season is going to effect their confidence.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Doesn't matter if we catch them. We just have to beat them.

Exactly!

It's not impossible to catch them, but it's not likely. Best to not think about Boston, just play our game and get ready for the playoffs.

 

[DarkKnight]

Let’s face it, the seedings are set, it just a matter of starting in TB or home. Nice format Bettman, what a snooze fest and it’s Jan.

 

[BayStBullies]

Let’s face it, the seedings are set, it just a matter of starting in TB or home. Nice format Bettman, what a snooze fest and it’s Jan.

The path to leaving the conference likely requires the Leafs to beat 3/5 top teams, when they are one of them. All quality of opposition better than every team in the West.

 

[Racer88]

DId not take night off vs Habs last night. Pasta with 1g and 3a. Can't wait to see if he gives the Bruins a discount.

That’s the difference between winners and the rest of the field……..winners don’t quit just because they are in a comfortable position

 

[IPS]

Let’s face it, the seedings are set, it just a matter of starting in TB or home. Nice format Bettman, what a snooze fest and it’s Jan.

The regular season is already dull given how the last 6 years have transpired.

Kind of unbelievable it's become even more dull now that we know our opponent 4 months in advance

 

[egd27]

If only they would go back to the 1-8, 2-7 etc. format

 

[Gary Nylund]

If only they would go back to the 1-8, 2-7 etc. format

View attachment 641304

Going back to that would be awesome. For one thing, it would be completely unclear who we play in round 1 instead of knowing with approx. 99% certainty that we play TB. And playing BOS instead of TB in round 1 last season would have been much preferable.

 

[Dekes For Days]

If only they would go back to the 1-8, 2-7 etc. format

View attachment 641304

The difference in that system is that Toronto-Tampa is far from locked in. There's still something to push for.
1v16 would obviously be better, but 1v8 is still much better than what we have now.

 

[authentic]

If only they would go back to the 1-8, 2-7 etc. format

View attachment 641304

We could atleast very well finish ahead of New Jersey and Carolina though.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Not to mention in a 1-8, rangers only 2 points behind tampa and pens/caps 5 points. We probably wouldn't know our opponent until the last 2 weeks which makes for exciting hockey. All I'm waiting for now is TD and playoffs.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

The current format is idiotic, it literally is designed to eliminate top teams right off the bat.
Much better option would be to save the high profile/heavyweight tilts for the semifinals where they belong.

Teams should be rewarded with easier matchups for finishing higher in the standings, and teams that sneak in should get the tougher matchups.

 

[egd27]

Going back to that would be awesome. For one thing, it would be completely unclear who we play in round 1 instead of knowing with approx. 99% certainty that we play TB. And playing WSH instead of TB in round 1 last season would have been preferable by miles.

Would have had Boston in the 1st round last year in a 1-8

 

[D00bis]

I think they take the remaining games to prepare for tampa with home ice and hope whoever Boston plays either take them out or takes them to 7 and tires them out so they don’t have the momentum

 

[Buds17]

If only they would go back to the 1-8, 2-7 etc. format

View attachment 641304

If the end result is a rematch with Tampa, so be it. The actual problem for me lies within the journey, not the destination. Toronto can conceivably catch NJ for third place in this model. The same applies for NYR and Tampa in fifth place. It'll take considerably more of an effort for Toronto to catch Boston - or for Buffalo to catch Tampa - under the current model.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

The current format is idiotic, it literally is designed to eliminate top teams right off the bat.
Much better option would be to save the high profile/heavyweight tilts for the semifinals where they belong.

Teams should be rewarded with easier matchups for finishing higher in the standings, and teams that sneak in should get the tougher matchups.

I wish!!!!
You think Bettman and the NHL bigwigs with Network CEOs and sponsors haven’t thought of that?

They did… and they love the idea of some small Market sunny welfare USA team stealing revenue from NASCAR, NFL, PGA, NCAA duck hunting.

Anything better than Canadas teams being there in the slot.

 

[Twine Tickler]

The answers are simple. Boston keeps winning, and our Leafs keep dropping points to bottom feeders!

beat me to it

 

[Gary Nylund]

Would have had Boston in the 1st round last year in a 1-8

Yes you're right, I stand corrected.