Toronto Maple Leafs: Analyzing Their Playoff Chances from Their Remaining Games

Remaining Games: 15

Remaining Home Games: 7

Games Against Top Eight: 6

Should-Win Games: NYI-Home, CAR-Home, BUF-Home, TBL-Home, MON-Away

While Toronto isn't much better at home than on the road, they are still better at home.

The Islanders haven't beat the Maple Leafs yet this year and all the other road teams play substantially worse away from home ice. 

A win against the last-place Canadiens is also pretty good bet.

Must-Win Games: WAS-Away, FLA-Away, TBL-Away, BUF-Away

Washington has bested the Maple Leafs in the last two games, but with Ovechkin not playing up to his potential lately, the Maple Leafs do have a chance.

Florida, the third-ranked team in the Eastern Conference, does not have the skills to live up to their ranking. Reaping the benefits of a weak division, the Panthers are a less intimidating team than they are made out to be.

Buffalo and Tampa Bay are competitors for the ever-so elusive eighth spot, and the Maple Leafs can not afford to give up any points to them.

Toss-Up Games: PHI-Home (2), NYR-Home, OTT-Away, BOS-Away, NJD-Away

These games are going to be tough. Four of the teams are in the top five for points in the Eastern Conference, including the top road team in the NHL, the Rangers.

Toronto has yet to beat Boston or Philadelphia yet this year as well.

Conclusion

For an eighth-place team and final playoff spot, the eighth-place team has averaged about 90 points on the season for the last five years.

That means the Maple Leafs are going to have to win all their must-win and should-win games—including a couple of toss-up games—against the top teams in the league.

With the way the Maple Leafs have been playing of late, that seems impossible. But if by some miracle the coaching change and the goalie situation start to click, they might just make it.

Odds: 10 percent