Proving they're legit

Well three months ago I said it was time for the Leafs to prove if they’re legitimately a threat to making the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Amazingly enough, their chances haven’t evaporated at this point; they’re in 7^th place right now! YEAH! Go Leafs!

James Reimer picking up his 10th win on the season against Edmonton, being congratulated by Phil Kessel.

Toronto did great on Monday night against Edmonton, leaving the Oilers even farther out of the western conference playoff race they’ve been out of for weeks. (Certainly a matchup I always like, Leafs & Oilers, basically my two favorite teams) A great 6-3 win for the Leafs against the Oilers, but sadly they had to play another game just the night after…1,500 kilometers away.

The fatigue really showed. Shots against Winnipeg were 29-18 in favor of the Jets as they won the game 2-1. A high note though was Phil Kessel’s 30^th goal, coming in the first period, the Leafs’ lone goal in the game. There was also a fight in the 3^rd, where Joey Crabb basically made a fool of himself by getting thrown down to the ice by Johnny Oduya. This picture pretty much describes the game for the Leafs…

Either way, Toronto really could’ve capitalized on the Jets game last night. They would’ve jumped to 64 points, and put a bigger gap in front of the 9^th and 10^th place SE division teams. (Currently Florida with 59 points, and now Winnipeg with 56) With Ottawa still at 61, handing a loss to the Jets last night would’ve really been catastrophic to their drive to a playoff appearance. Now Winnipeg is still hanging on, still 5 points out of the 8^th spot. Now the Leafs have two pivotal games ahead of them, the Flyers tomorrow night, then the Canadiens on HNIC, Saturday at 7pm, heavily anticipated for Mats Sundin’s number 13 getting “honoured”… I really wish they’d just retire it, I don’t want anyone else to don a #13 for the Leafs, ever. Nobody beats Mats. I have enough trouble getting over the fact that Lombardi wears #15, only months after the well-remembered Tomas Kaberle was traded away.

Regardless, the Leafs have proved after 3 months that they are legit. I mean, they even got around to beating Detroit last month, now that was an excellent game. If Reimer and Gustavsson continue to play well, and Kessel & Lupul continue their scoring ways, the Maple Leafs will be in the playoffs. Get excited.