Maple Leafs’ Playoff Chances are Greater Than Some May Think

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz) By Lukas Hardonk (@LukasHardonk) The 2011-2012 NHL schedule has finally reached the All-Star break, with festivities continuing in Ottawa all the way through Sunday night. It’s a time for players to enjoy themselves and for teams to recharge, while those who were lucky enough to attend the All-Star weekend may have received a little confidence boost. The Toronto Maple Leafs, like just about every other team in National Hockey League, got a little bit of both this weekend; Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul and Dion Phaneuf all had the honour of going to Ottawa, while the rest of the team got to rest. All of this is good news as far as a playoff run goes, although that won’t come until after the trade deadline. Still, though, this is a good time to look at where each team sits in their respective conference and analyze their chances at qualifying for the NHL’s post-season. The Leafs are one of the teams currently in the thick of t...