Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.28

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Seventy four points. Nine games remaining. Four teams to pass. Three key players missing. That is the task ahead of the Maple Leafs as they try to claw their way into the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. A tall task indeed but can they do it…not likely. Losing Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov - their top two players in scoring thus far this season – along with Carlo Colaiacovo, who had been impressive since returning to the lineup midway through the season, will certainly leave the Leafs undermanned and without several players who have kept them in the race at all to this point.

Only six points back of a playoff spot is certainly not an impossible hill to climb but it’s the four teams – Philadelphia, Buffalo, Washington and Florida – that must be passed which makes the chore seem that much more daunting. The likelihood of all four of these teams going in that tank over the last two and a half weeks of the regular season is indeed very unlikely.

With just nine games remaining and currently sitting at seventy four points, the Maple Leafs would need to win all of their remaining games to finish with 92 points, the usual threshold for playoff inclusion. In the last five years, the eighth place team in the East has had totals of 92, 92, 91, 83, and 87 points. To reach 92 points, the Flyers, currently holding eighth place with 80 points only have to go 6-3 down the stretch. If they don’t, Buffalo, Washington or Florida will.

The only thing that points in the favour of the Leafs right now is their schedule down the stretch. Twice they take on the Sabres and the Bruins, two teams that are right ahead of them in the standings. Win those games and along with the five others and it could get interesting. But really, is there anyone that would bet for a 9-0 record to finish the season. Didn’t think so. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.