Thursday 3 March 2011

Eighteen Games

A Leaf's playoff birth rests on the final leg of the race. With only eighteen games remaining in the season the Leaf's may be fighting the odds, but they aren't out yet.

The Good: 

Phil Kessel, after fighting through a slump has posted ten points in their last five; which includes five goals.This surging offensive production is a relief to Kessel and Leaf fans alike. He is now tied for the team lead with 49 points.

James Reimer has rebounded from a knee to the head he recieved against Atlanta and posted a .931 S% in the Leaf's last game against Pittsburgh. Reimer a glimmer of hope in the lockeroom, has steamrolled into the NHL winning 11 of twenty contests.

Nikolai Kulemin - the longest serving Leaf - has been, in my opinion, the most consistant Leaf this season. He may not put up points every game, but he plays hard at both ends of the rink and competes every night. He has passed his career high in all offensive numbers: Goals with 23 and assists with 22.

The Rest: 

The Leaf's sit in tenth place, four points out of the playoffs. In front is Buffalo (sixty-seven points with twenty games remaining) and Carolina (sixty-nine points with eighteen games left). It should also be noted that The New York Rangers are also fighting for a spot in 7th place with seventy points and they only have seventeen games left.

With Buffalo playing twenty games the Leaf's must hope they: flop in this last dash, or that they can beat both Carolina AND New York for that coveted eighth spot.

It will take a lot of effort to push themselves into that final spot - effort that has been absent from their last few starts - but it isn't unreasonable to believe they can make it.

On to Philly.

21 comments:

  1. about the only team i watch is the stars.

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  2. Thanks for the update man. Hope they make it into a better position.

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  3. Hope they move up in the rankings.

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  4. Incredible job by Kessel I would say!

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  5. I don't know, the Leafs have been hot lately, but they have a long way to go to actually make the playoffs. Leafs in the playoffs? ahahaha

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  6. Impressive Love the sport of hockey.

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  7. I'm a blackhawk fan my self, but i can respect a hockey fan all the same!

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  8. I haven't watched hockey since I was in middleschool... Might have to give it another shot sometime soon...

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  9. Nice post
    I will have to check the Leaf's out!

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  10. I live in Holland, have no idea about football, and still that was a good read....
    Love the blog!

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  11. I realy do hope the leafs make it into the playoffs, its been too long. with their new goalie things are looking better, hopefully they do it!

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  12. really enjoying these keep them coming.

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  13. I'm sure they can make it if they try hard enough.

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  14. Great blog! Love reading these.

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  15. I think this is their year, I've shoved $200 on them already.

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  16. GO LEAFS,they will do it this year im sure about it :D

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  17. He looks like he's smoking a cigar in that picture

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  18. Ill be sure to keep my ear to the ground for information about them.

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  19. They could do it. Fingers crossed.

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  20. He looks like he's chewing liqorice (sp)

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