"If the Maple Leafs could find a way to complete a comeback, it was possible some ground could be made up in their chase for a playoff spot. Toronto did its part, clawing back to defeat the Jets, but their division counterparts didn't cooperate. Only the Red Wings went on to lose their game, but earned a point by taking it to overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins."
"Thanks to a five-game points streak, four of them wins, the Maple Leafs have increased their odds of making the playoffs to 15.9%. Slumbering through most of the first half of the season has left them with a lot of work to do. On December 1, after twenty-five games, the Leafs were 11-11-3 and last in the Eastern Conference. The Buffalo Sabres (26 points) and Florida Panthers (25 points in one less game) were closest to them in the standings."
The Maple Leafs trailed 2-0 early against the Winnipeg Jets but rallied to win while several division rivals trailed. Only Detroit lost, and earned an overtime point, while Montreal, Tampa Bay and Ottawa all won. The results underscore how difficult it is to climb the standings in an era of parity and three-point games when chasing a crowded pack. A recent five-game points streak, including four wins, raised Toronto's playoff probability to 15.9%. Toronto began December 1 at 11-11-3, last in the Eastern Conference, and still faces substantial work to secure a postseason berth. Buffalo and Florida have also improved, complicating Toronto's path.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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