5 Stats That Must Improve for the Toronto Maple Leafs to Make 2014-15 Playoffs

With the relative parity that exists in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs must focus on making the 2014-15 playoffs, as all playoff clubs can challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Winning the Cup is a long shot at best, but any kind of extended playoff run would be welcomed by long-suffering Leafs fans.

To even contend for a playoff spot, the team must perform better in a number of areas.

Here is a look at five stats that must be improved upon if the club hopes to be a playoff team. 

5. 5-on-5 Goals Against

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With much of the game played at five-on-five, the Leafs must improve their play at even strength.

In 2013-14, the team gave up 166 goals during five-on-five play. The Los Angeles Kings led the NHL in this category by giving up just 105. 

While some of this falls to the defence corps, the two-way play of the team's forwards also has to improve significantly. The forwards have to be better on the backcheck, and have to be goal-side in the defensive zone.

The team has to improve this number by at least 25 goals, which should put them in the upper half of all teams in this category.

It won't translate directly to a playoff spot, but it will go a long way in doing so.

4. Penalty-Killing Percentage

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The Leafs' penalty-killing percentage was awful in 2013-14. The club ranked 28th in the NHL and converted just 78.4 percent of their penalty-kill opportunities. 

The focus must be on simplicity. Defensive-zone faceoffs must be prioritized, and newly added depth forwards are going to be key.

Defencemen Dion Phaneuf, Roman Polak and Jake Gardiner are likely to be leaned on heavily as well.

Ultimately, goaltenders Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer will be the most important penalty-killers. If they can improve rebound control and prevent second chances, the penalty-kill percentage should improve.

3. Scoring-First Losses

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The Buffalo Sabres managed to lose 15 games after scoring the first goal. That was the worst total in 2013-14. The Leafs were not much better, as they lost nine games the same way.

Some of this was due to the team's relatively young roster and subsequent inexperience. The team has added veterans at both forward and defence.

A new commitment to defensive play is another must.

New forwards like David Booth and Daniel Winnik should be able to help in this department. If David Clarkson can bring some additional intensity to the team, it should benefit all.

If the Leafs can count on solid play from all four forward lines, they should be able to extend some of the good starts they enjoyed in several games in 2013-14. 

2. Shots Against Per Game

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The Leafs spent far too much time in their own end in 2013-14. They were outshot by a wide margin on too many nights. Chasing the opposition does not translate well to the win column.

The team was the NHL's worst in giving up 35.9 shots per game. The top teams in this category gave up between 25 and 28 goals against in 2013-14. 

Even excellent goaltending last season was not enough to overcome this staggering number of shots. Over an 82-game season, the Leafs gave up almost 1,000 more shots than the best defensive teams in the NHL.

Enough said.

1. Goals-Against Average

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Just five teams gave up more than three goals per game in 2013-14. The Leafs were one of these teams with their 3.07 goals-against average.

Effectively, the team had to score four goals to win hockey games regularly. Even with a relatively potent offence, this was challenging to do night after night.

The team should be able to score at a similar rate in 2014-15 as they did last season. There is a good chance they'll actually increase their goals scored.

If they can reduce both their shots and goals against, there is good reason to believe that the team can increase their points total significantly. 

All stats can be found on NHL.com.