Even if the Leafs go perfect on the rest of the season they would still need some luck to get into the playoffs. With nine remaining and sitting 6 out of a spot, they need the Flyers, Sabres, Caps and Panthers to lose a whole bunch. But what am I even saying? The Leafs win nine in a row? That's less probable than Wade Belak becoming a 50 goal scorer.
Now the Leafs have a pretty tough schedule for their last nine, playing Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston each twice. How these schedules always seem to have teams that are competing for spots play each other in the end always amazes me. But a favourable outcome to this end of season run is hard to predict since the Captain Mats and Antropov are both sitting for awhile. Unknown right now whether they will play on Tues. vs. the Islanders.
So what can they do against the Islanders this tuesday without mats and nik? defence. Everyone needs to play defence, the islanders are only a little worse than the leafs but they have their line in and would LOVE to kill our playoff dreams. Seems like they need to come out blazing, get in some shots, maybe an early goal.
The leafs need production from wellwood, steen and tlusty in this stretch, especially since they've been a little absent as of late. Steen showed a bit last game, wellwood still has some sucking up to fans to do. Tlusty needs to put his pants back on and put it in the back of the net instead of putting it in the back of...well you get the comparison.
Safe to say if we lose this one, more will say they should tank it. loosing 8 in a row ill give us a better shot at stamkos, and if not him, at least someone near the top.
I know they should tank it from, but I hope they just try and make it. Show some resilience and blind ambition to your fans guys.
Look for a post-game on tuesday after the game against the islanders.
proud of them? not yet. give it a few years.
admire them? a little.
never give up.
