Go Leafs Go!

[TML]

I know there's a college basketball tournament going on right now, but I have to get something off my chest. I just finished watching one of the most intense hockey games I've seen in a very long time. After two periods, the Toronto Maple Leafs were down 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators and on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention. Two early third period goals by Jiri Tlusty and Matt Stajan, plus a last-second defensive play by Pavel Kubina brought the Leafs back from the brink of elimination.

According to many prognosticators, the Leafs were out of the playoff picture back in mid-February when the team was in total disarray. The special teams units were the worst in the league, and the defense wasn't much better.

So much has changed since then. Since February 16th, they've gone 12-4-1 and are now within four points of a playoff spot. A home-and-home series against the Boston Bruins next week are all that stand between the Leafs and a realistic shot at the playoffs.

The Leafs have six games left against the Bruins, Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. They have a 13-9-4 record against these teams, and most of those losses happened during the lowest points of the season when the general manager, the head coach, and most of the roster was rumored to be on the way out.

Am I crazy to believe making the playoffs is a better than 50/50 proposition? They could have packed it in and jockeyed for a lottery pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft. Instead, they've shown that they have what it takes to win under pressure.

No matter how the next six games turn out, I'm proud of these guys. Every one of them.

[Forkboy]

1. They looked dead in the water a few weeks ago.

I still think they have too many teams to hop over, always a tough thing to do. But at least they've given themselves a chance, long shot or not. And Lord knows the Bruins aren't setting the world on fire. x(

[Upton]

2. Doubt if they'll make it

4 teams ahead of them and the Caps are hot. BTW, as a Sharks fan, I'd just like to mention they've gone 14-0-1 in their last 15.