"If Toronto wants to turn momentum into a playoff spot, it must accomplish something it has struggled to do all season: defeat divisional opponents. It's the most direct path to securing a playoff position in a jam-packed Eastern Conference. The Atlantic Division is the strongest group in the East, with multiple teams on hot streaks, and two of them currently holding down the wild-card positions. As part of their current five-game homestand, the Maple Leafs face two divisional opponents, starting with the Detroit Red Wings."
"Detroit used that early momentum as a springboard to consistently hold a postseason berth, while the Leafs have been below the playoff bubble all year. The Red Wings were again victorious in the third meeting between the teams, winning 3-2 in overtime on December 28 in Detroit. That's a 6-1 edge in points for the Wings over the three games. That five-point head-to-head advantage is a big part of the Red Wings' eight-point lead over Toronto in the standings."
A recent hot stretch has pulled the Toronto Maple Leafs back into the playoff picture, but the climb in the standings remains incomplete. To secure a playoff spot, Toronto must improve results against divisional opponents, the most direct path in a jam-packed Eastern Conference. The Atlantic Division is the strongest group in the East and features multiple teams on hot streaks. As part of a five-game homestand, Toronto faces divisional opponents starting with Detroit. Detroit has risen into a top-three spot in 2025-26, fueled by strong results against Toronto, including early October back-to-back wins and a 3-2 overtime victory on December 28. Those head-to-head results have given Detroit a multi-point advantage in the standings.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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