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The Toronto Maple Leafs finished up their challenging six-game Western Conference stretch going 4-2 after sweeping the home-and-home series with Winnipeg with a 4-2 victory over the Jets at the Canada Life Centre on Saturday.
It was a contest with a surprising list of contributors, as Ryan Reaves (who scored his 2nd goal of the season), John Tavares (who snapped a 10-game goalless skid), and Simon Benoit (with an empty-netter), joined Auston Matthews on the goal sheet. Ilya Samsonov continued his bounce-back with another solid 24-save effort.
AUSTON MATTHEWS 🚨
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 28, 2024
40 GOALS! 600 POINTS! FASTEST IN LEAFS HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/zrjny1ftD3
“He was tested a lot tonight. As much as I liked our game, I thought we gave up more than we had given up here in recent games. He was really good again here tonight. He is looking confident.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game.…With the work that he has done here of late, going into the break, it is a chance to take a breath and regroup. He can come back refreshed but confident. We are thrilled for him.…
Toronto hits the All-Star break with a 25-14-8 record (58 points), six points ahead of the New York Islanders, who are the closest team in the race for the Eastern Conference wildcard spot. Right now, the Leafs are in a tight battle with Tampa (59 points) and Detroit (57 points) for third place in the Atlantic and one of the two wildcard spots.
Matthews: BENOIT! pic.twitter.com/V3CuKxFUHQ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 28, 2024
All three spots are unenviable in terms of potential playoff matchups. If the Leafs finished in third, they would match up with the Florida Panthers, who eliminated them in the second round last season. If they finish in the first wildcard, they would match up with the Metro-leading New York Rangers, who have struggled recently but are still a formidable foe. If they finish in the second wildcard, they would matchup with the Boston Bruins……nothing more needs to be said there.
It is expected that all three of these clubs will be stronger going into the playoffs, as all are expected to add at the trade deadline. Currently, the Leafs are in a good position to make the postseason for the eighth straight year, but there still is some question how GM Brad Treliving can make roster upgrades before March 8 with limited draft capital and an unwillingness to trade existing prospects.
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