Maple Leafs: A Small Winning Streak Away from Playoffs

On the heels of a big win over Jason Arnott and the Nashville Predators, the Toronto Maple Leafs (incredibly enough) find themselves only nine points out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

With just a modest four game winning streak, the Leafs could find themselves right back in the fight, and as luck would have it, their next three games all all against conference opponents who are between them and eighth place.

Up first are the Atlanta Thrashers. With just six more points than the Maple Leafs, Nik Antropov, Pavel Kubina and the Thrashers are coming off a loss, and are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games. The Leafs have won the only meeting to date this year with a 5-2 effort at the ACC on Dec 7. If the Leafs can contain Captain Kovalchuk, who has three goals and three assists in his last four games, they should pick up their second win in a row.

This Thursday will see the Boys in Blue rolling into Tampa Bay to face a Lightning squad who will be a much tougher test for the Leafs. With a record of 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, the Lightning boast two of the top 20 scorers in the league with Steve Stamkos ( seventh ), and Ryan Malone ( 19th ). The Leafs will have to adjust to more of a blue line stand type of defense and try to capitalize on turnovers to win this one, but if they keep it simple it should be their third win in a row.

Coming up on Saturday, the Leafs head into Florida for another tilt against the Florida Panthers and Captain Brian McCabe. The Panthers, like the Lightning, are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. However, as of right now they are enjoying a three game win streak of their own. The difference in this one will come down to goaltending. Florida's Tomas Vokoun is 16-14 with a .927 save percentage, and he will likely face Leaf rookie Jonas Gustavsson who is coming off his first win in four games and boasts a .901 save percentage. The Leafs will need to let Gustavsson make a few big saves while they throw everything and the kitchen sink at Vokoun.

This winning streak is very possible, and I think as long as the Leafs play simple, fundamental, and smart hockey there is no reason they can't pull this off.

I find it interesting that as Hagman goes, so goes Kessel......or is it just me? The last time either of them were on any kind of streak, they both were successful. Strange huh?