Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 2.29

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The road over the next two weeks will not be an easy one for the Maple Leafs. If they do secure a playoff position, they will deserve it. There’s no way the Maple Leafs will fall into one by accident. With seven games remaining, I hate to set out a number of games the Leafs must win to advance to the postseason as so much is still dependant on what the bubble teams do over the next fourteen days; however, it is quite safe to say anything less than five wins will not be good enough. Five but more likely six wins to skate in their first playoff contest in three springs. All tall order for sure. Can they do it? I’m inclined to say yes.

This team is unpredictable. Just when you think they are about to separate themselves from the pack, they go into a slump. Just when you think they’ve had it, they get hot. They lose games they should win and they win games that nobody expects them to. Logic says they shouldn’t make it. They might just surprise us all the way to a playoff spot. They’re unpredictable, remember?

Save for the most atrocious nine minutes of their season, the Maple Leafs played their two best games of the season against arguably the best team in the league. The way they are playing right now, the Leafs could do some damage in the playoffs. You’ve got to think the buds will want the opportunity to give this style of play a shot in the playoffs.

The revolving door is finally the shortest segment of our show. The Leafs are just about healthy. Tucker, Wellwood and Kaberle have returned and have been dynamic since getting back into the lineup.

Matt Stajan is suddenly skating with a jump in his step not seen since the end of last season. Nik Antropov has become a sniper. Yanick Perreault’s line is generating offense as well. All of a sudden, the Leafs boast a legitimate scoring threat no matter which line Paul Maurice taps on the shoulders.

I’m not sitting here guaranteeing the Leafs will make it. I’m just saying there’s no reason to say they won’t. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.