Playoff Percentages: Maple Leafs primed for Maple Leafs-like collapse
Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
Think of it this way, Maple Leafs supporters: At least the final weekend of the regular season matters. A lot.
After play Tuesday night, with both Toronto and the Tampa Bay Lighting losing, the Maple Leafs' playoff chances were great, at 97.6 percent. Tampa's? Not so good, at 2 percent. Well, things have changed.
The Lightning, fresh off a 4-1 win in Toronto on Thursday, beat the Montreal Canadiens on Friday to move within a point of the Maple Leafs for the final playoff spot up for grabs in the NHL.
Here's what the math looks like:
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | W 4-2 | 11.5% | +7.3% |
| Maple Leafs | Off | 81.6% | -6.9% |
| Islanders | Off | 6.9% | -0.4% |
(Data courtesy: Sports Club Stats)
Toronto controls its own destiny, with home games Saturday against Pittsburgh and Sunday against the Blue Jackets.
The Lightning have one game left, Sunday evening at home versus Buffalo. Their only hope is that it matters.
The Islanders are in New Jersey on Saturday and home to Ottawa on Sunday.
Enjoy the final weekend of the season. And remember, Leafs fans: 81.6 percent is a hell of a lot better than zero.