One thing that the Leafs will want to avoid this season that will help them in the playoffs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are proving something this season that many had questioned last year and that is whether or not the Leafs are a top team in the NHL.
When the Buds took down the North Division last season, the common narrative was that theirs was a particularly weak division. Well, now that argument doesn't really stand up, considering how well the Leafs have done in the Atlantic Division this season with the likes of Tampa, Boston and Florida.
At the moment, the Leafs are 4 points back on Florida and 5 points back on Tampa with games in hand and hold a healthy 7-point lead over the Bruins as well. They have two games ahead against each of the Bolts and the Panthers, which could swing things heavily in their favor if they can keep things close between now and the end of the season.
Sheldon Keefe has been vocal about his goal of winning the Atlantic Division this season and the Leafs are in a decent position to be able to do that as of this moment. That being said, there's one thing that the Leafs will need to avoid between now and the end of the season. Peaking too early.
The Leafs will want to avoid peaking to early to ensure that they're putting their absolute best foot forward when the games matter; in the postseason. Last season, the Leafs dominated in the North and wound up with a favourable first round matchup as a result. Of course, there's no excuse for blowing a 3-1 series lead to an inferior opponent, but the argument can certainly be made that the Leafs - and their star players in particular - did not peak when it mattered most. They peaked too early and it cost them in the worst way possible.
Right now, the Leafs are approaching their ceiling, but the important thing is that they have not smashed through it yet. They have a little under half the season remaining to polish up the finer details of their game before the games that matter officially begin. Let's hope that the best is yet to come.
