We must win the division if we want to make a run.

[HockeyVirus]

Jets and Oiles are too dangerous to have to take out two of them. I'm not saying we can't do it, but this is where Dubas talked about putting ourselves in the best position to win.

Oilers offense is insane and we'd be cocky to suggest 3 games in the first half of the season mattered in the playoffs. Absolutely terrifying trying to stop them.

Jets we saw what they can do. They burn us on all chances against and have a insane goalie.

Avoiding them in round 1 and letting one take out the other is the ideal plan. It's MUCH more preferable to take on one of Calgary / Montreal in round 1 because we can beat them. We outclass them in 7 games IMO,

If we end up in 2nd or 3rd, it's going to be real hard to get out of the division IMO.

Click to read more...

 

[Stephen]

The path of least resistance is fine and all, but a championship team wins any way it has to get to 16 wins.

 

[NK94]

The Jets and Oilers are just as dangerous, but are also flawed. The deadline and the goaltending are going to play major roles here.

 

[Tairy Greene]

Whoever we play is probably still easier than Boston. Having said that, Oilers and Jets have shown they are a tier above the remaining teams imo so 1st place definitely has some incentive.

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

We need to get back on track to outplaying all teams like we were at the start.

Attention to detail and hard work.. also defense and goaltending are huge, as we learned during our losing skid. We were out playing teams but losing because of mistake in the dzone and our goalie not being able to make a save. About 65%-70% the goalie would let in a bad goal and the team would have to claw back... We rarely got BIG saves that literally took away a goal from the other team. We constantly see it happen to us from other teams goalies but rarely do we get those saves. Campbell's been the guy that showed up to make those saves.. but that was in a 4 game sample size... So goaltending is still in question and that's going to be the biggest challenge for us in the playoffs..

We get good goaltending or at worst as good as the other team... We win. Easy.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

If we can't beat any 2 teams out of our own division, how are we going to 2 of the 3 best teams from the other divisions? Winnipeg and Edmonton are not going to be as good as Tampa/Vegas/etc.

I am not worried about Winnipeg and Edmonton as long as our goaltending holds up.

 

[Marshy]

It all comes down to health. If Campbell can handle the #1 duties and not break down I'm not worried. I trust Dubas to address the most pressing needs at the TDL and we go into the playoffs with the strongest group possible.

 

[DarenX]

Give me any of them. I think the buds are good to take any of the teams.

All of them could give the boys a hard time, for whatever reason I would want the oilers least though... they just have that type of "surprise mf" vibe

 

[Buds17]

That does sound ideal! I'd hope they don't dip to anything below 2nd place at the absolute worst. Can't ever underestimate any opponent though. It would be nice to enter a series as a 'favourite' (having the better regular season finish).

 

[kevsh]

I like Toronto's chances against any other North team in a 7 game series. I think the Jets make it interesting, the Flames will keep some games close, the Oilers will be better than that 3-game series but nowhere near deep enough, and the Habs would need Price to be the second coming of Hasek (possible, but not betting on it).

Regardless of my take on the opponents, one thing any Canadian hockey fan would likely agree: Anything less than a Semi-Final appearance for the Leafs will be considered a spectacular, devastating failure by the organization and fans.

 

[ER89]

If you give me a goalie that is as good, not better, but just as good as the other teams goalie, i'll show you a series win.

 

[Confucius]

Give me any of them. I think the buds are good to take any of the teams.

All of them could give the boys a hard time, for whatever reason I would want the oilers least though... they just have that type of "surprise mf" vibe

Can't believe some are concerned about who we will play. Finally, got rid of Boston and Tampa but now a new boogeyman appears. lol
Some folks just like to stress I guess.

 

[al secord]

I'm on it!

 

[Gary Nylund]

Can't believe some are concerned about who we will play. Finally, got rid of Boston and Tampa but now a new boogeyman appears. lol
Some folks just like to stress I guess.

Indeed. There are definitely things to stress about when it comes to the Leafs but who we might face in the 1st round is well down the list for me. At the top of the list is our goaltending, then there's a pretty big gap until the next items which include Matthews' health and our defensive depth and then there's another big gap before we get to this non-issue.

I do want to win the division, but that's just as much due to the desire to play MTL in the 1st round as anything else.

 

[123offtheglass]

Playing a better team can better prepare you but I don't see a big difference if any at all between Edmonton, Winnipeg & Montreal come playoff time; actually thing Montreal will be toughest of them all. We need to be ready for a Tampa, Vegas, Colorado, Islanders caliber team.

If team gets some decent goaltending I fully expect them to run away with 1st all over again. We have 2 games in hand on Edmonton and 4 points but a game ahead of Winnipeg. Before Fred really crapped the bed we were way out; Campbell is going to get his starts now.

 

[Vaive50]

Playing a better team can better prepare you but I don't see a big difference if any at all between Edmonton, Winnipeg & Montreal come playoff time; actually thing Montreal will be toughest of them all. We need to be ready for a Tampa, Vegas, Colorado, Islanders caliber team.

If team gets some decent goaltending I fully expect them to run away with 1st all over again. We have 2 games in hand on Edmonton and 4 points but a game ahead of Winnipeg. Before Fred really crapped the bed we were way out; Campbell is going to get his starts now.

The boys also have to find their scoring touch again, we just can't score much these days (even Matthews only has 3 in his last 11 games). Scoring only becomes tougher in the playoffs

 

[zeke]

1. We don't.

2. We will (comfortably).

 

[IPS]

Leafs have proven to be the best team in the division by a good margin. Freddy's stretch of AHL level goaltending has warped some minds in Leafs nation. We dominated Edmonton and Winnipeg in the mini series with them, one series we had adequate goaltending and one didn't.

If Campbell stays healthy the Leafs will start pulling away again.

 

[OB34KNH]

Hockey is the luckiest sport in all of sports.

I don't think it matters who we face.

If the Leafs are playing terrible, they will lose regardless of who they play.
If the Leafs are playing good, and, we're getting solid goaltending we're the favorites.

 

[DarenX]

Can't believe some are concerned about who we will play. Finally, got rid of Boston and Tampa but now a new boogeyman appears. lol
Some folks just like to stress I guess.

I change the channel on our pk's and if we are up one goal I also change the channel for the last few minutes of game majority of the time.

Also if I got to pick a team to play 1st 2nd 3rd round, I dont care, I want Boston.

Some of us do like the stress deep down I guess haha

 

[Mr Hockey]

its not going to be easy, the Jets goalie alone can win the series against the Leafs

 

[Goose]

Hockey’s too variable, way too many 1/8 and 2/7 upsets to tempt fate by wishing for a matchup.

Basketball, no problem. Okay Portland, sure thing, good luck against the Lakers. Hockey? No tempting fate please.

 

[Le Cobra]

Perspective from a Leafs fan is all teams are dangerous.

Perspective from all other teams: Leafs are the most dangerous.

Middle perspective: Leafs Habs Oilers Jets are the teams to beat

 

[zeke]

Win Percentage

8. TOR .656
12. WPG .625
13. EDM .618
14. MTL .597
20. CGY .500
23. VAN .486
29. OTT .368


Goals For Percentage

5. TOR 56.5%
7. MTL 55.0%
12. EDM 53.9%
15. WPG 52.6%
21. CGY 47.1%
22. VAN 46.4%
29. OTT 39.5%

Expected Goals For Percentage

4. TOR 55.0%
7. EDM 53.8%
10. MTL 52.3%
16. CGY 50.1%
19. WPG 47.9%
22. OTT 47.1%
29. VAN 44.3%

Save Percentage

12. WPG .908
13. VAN .908
16. TOR .907
17. EDM .906
18. MTL .906
23. CGY .900
30. OTT .881


Goals For per 60

2. EDM 3.41
3. TOR 3.37
8. MTL 3.21
9. WPG 3.20
20. VAN 2.71
22. CGY 2.68
25. OTT 2.51

Expected Goals For per 60

1. EDM 3.30
2. TOR 3.21
10. MTL 2.84
12. WPG 2.74
13. CGY 2.71
16. OTT 2.67
19. VAN 2.65


Goals Against per 60

10. TOR 2.59
11. MTL 2.63
16. WPG 2.89
18. EDM 2.92
20. CGY 3.00
23. VAN 3.13
31. OTT 3.85

Expected Goals Against per 60

10. MTL 2.59
12. TOR 2.62
16. CGY 2.70
21. EDM 2.84
29. WPG 2.99
30. OTT 3.00
31. VAN 3.34


TOR seems the clearcut best team across the board. 1st or 2nd in every major offensive, defensive, and overall category.

EDM/MTL/WPG all have flaws and I'm not sure we should worry about matching up against any of them more than the others.

 

[Rondo Hatton]

Toronto brings their game and our goaltending issues are laid to rest - I'll take our chances against any of them. Not a brag, just saying we have a solid chance against all of them . A list of preferred teams in the first round - excluding no one, even Ottawa

Montreal
Vancouver
Ottawa
Calgary (IF Sutter rights the ship, his style of team worries me in the playoffs)
Edmonton
Winnipeg