"The Maple Leafs' lineup is starting to look a bit more like the team that was written down on paper in the off season. Healthy versions of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies will make a world of difference in assessing where the team is at. And while Chris Tanev being absent is still significant, looking at the Leafs without the built-in excuse of issues setts the Leafs up for a week of determining what this team truly is."
"Generally, the rule of thumb is that if you aren't in a playoff spot at American Thanksgiving, it is assumed that you probably aren't going to make the playoffs this season. The Leafs having the second-worst points percentage in the Eastern Conference (6th worst in the league), the 9th worst goal differential in the NHL, and the 5th highest goals against in the league is probably a bad sign."
The Maple Leafs' lineup is approaching the offseason projection as Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies return toward health. Chris Tanev remains absent, keeping a defensive question mark. The team holds the second-worst points percentage in the Eastern Conference (6th worst in the NHL), a 9th worst goal differential, and the 5th highest goals against total. The Leafs sit five points outside a wild-card spot, but face a tougher schedule with many road games. The team would need roughly 70 points in the remaining 58 games—a .593 points percentage—to reach playoff pace. A .500 points percentage by end of December would preserve a realistic wild-card chance.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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