Quest for the Cup continues unabated in Leafs land

Ronald Neal
Staff Writer
With only five weeks remaining this season, and with seemingly nothing to lose, the Maple Leafs currently find themselves with a chance for the playoffs to finish out the semester.
It’s improbable, unexpected and frankly fantastic. Despite earlier predictions, it’s a welcome change from mid-season disillusionment.
Many may just be setting themselves up for disappointment, and feeling this is nothing really new for the franchise. For years now, at least since 2006 when the team actually made it to the playoffs, the Maple Leafs have toyed with the faithful by playing themselves out of contention early only to go on a late run to make things incredibly, if desperately, exciting.
A few years back, the possibility of the team making the playoffs came down to the last game of the season, or came down to games where they only needed one or two points, only to find themselves out of the playoffs by a few points.
This is arguably nothing new, and as of right now the team sits six points from the eighth and final playoff spot, currently occupied by the Buffalo Sabres. There are 15 games left in the season (and 30 possible points up for grabs) and one team ahead of us in the standings, the Carolina Hurricanes, equally desperate for contention. Realistically, it will be a long shot if we make it: the Maple Leafs know there is little room for error.
Despite the grim reality of the situation, though, the fact the Maple Leafs are so close allows for at least an ounce of faith they can do this and make something incredible happen. It’s essentially an exercise in optimism, and it’s one that many could benefit from.
So, without further delay, let’s breakdown how we got here.
The fact is the team has been playing incredibly well since as far back as the all-star break. The last few matches, however, have even turned the sceptical into, at the very least, cautious believers.
It started two hockey nights ago when the injury-depleted Pittsburgh Penguins came to town. Since that shootout loss, we have gone 2-1-1 against some of the best teams in the league. Arguably the most exciting of the lot occurred on Thursday night when the team managed an improbable come-from-behind against the first place Philadelphia Flyers. And, even in defeat, we have shown a hunger and determination that was not present earlier, and so cause for hope.
Saturday night we had our first regulation loss in some time, to the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Despite what the score will tell you, we were never out of that game.
And despite what the standings tell you, we are not out of the playoffs yet.