The Toronto Maple Leafs now trail the Tampa Bay Lightnening for the 8th and final playoff spot. The Leafs do have a game in hand on Tampa who they currently trail by 7 points so if they win that game will be 5 points back.

Now lets do the math if Tampa who has eight games remaining go .500 which would be 4-4 that would put them at 91 points the Leafs who currently have 76 points would need to go 8-1 in their final 9 games to finish with 92 points.

We still have to consider that Atlanta who is 2 points ahead of Toronto stumble along the way they also have 9 games remaining and with the above scenerio would need to go 7-2 to reach the 92 point plateau but Atlanta does play Tampa twice more before the season is up.

So as stated unless the Lightnening have a total collapse the Leafs will need to go 8-1 to make the playoffs.

Remaining Schedule

Toronto:Home Games: Buffalo, NY Islanders, Florida, Ottawa, Pittsburgh
Away Games: Philadelphia, Boston, NY Islanders, Buffalo

Tampa:Home Games: 2 Atlanta, Florida, Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina
Away Games: Florida, Carolina


Atlanta:Home Games:Carolina, Washington, Boston
Away Games: Ottawa, 2 Florida, 2 Tampa, Washington

Florida:Home Games:2 Atlanta, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh
Away Games: Toronto, Tampa, Ottawa

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Yup!....a lot of chips need to fall in the right direction for the Maple Leafs to have a chance.  If the Leafs continue to play like they have been lately I wouldn't be surprised to see them win 7 or 8 of the last 9 but asking for 3 teams to falter is a tough one.  Plus, Tampa, Florida and Atlanta have all kinds of head to heads so there's the opportunity for 3 point games.  If we keep winning, things will remain interesting but I'm not holding out any real hope.  At this point, it's high draft pick be damned....It's just nice to see this team playing with some gumption. 

However, if the Leafs have a game on the schedule after April 18, I gurantee I'll be there with bells on!