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Islanders Magic Number for the Playoffs is 94

Mar 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) and defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) look on in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) and defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) look on in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs

Games remaining: 7
Opposition Breakdown: Established 4- Bubble 1- Bottom 2
Venue: H 4/A 3
Back-to-Back: 2

How long should a rebuild take? Some say five to ten years. How about two. Just two years to turn a franchise around 360. They’re sitting third in the Atlantic division with a 35-24-15 record. It’s incredible what they’ve done. Lucky for them the Atlantic is a weak division.

With seven games to go, it’s hard to see the Maple Leafs giving up that 3rd spot in the Atlantic and a tasty matchup against the Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Of their remaining seven, four are at home where they boast a 20-10-7 record which helps enormously. Unfortunately, all those home dates are against teams either locked into the playoffs already or against a competing bubble team such as the Lightning.

They’re going to drop some home dates. I’d peg them to drop the second of a back-to-back against Washington, and that Tampa game on April 6th. For a few reasons.

Washington is just a better team. Hands down. Tampa is arguably a better team. What isn’t arguable is how much better they’ve been since trading Ben Bishop to the Kings. But we’ll get to the Lightning later. That’s four points I’d peg the Leafs to drop.

The Leafs end the season with a back-to-back tilt against the Penguins and the Blue Jackets. Both teams have already locked their playoff births with 105 and 103 points on the year respectively. One of them is going to slip up. Maybe not enough for a loss, but enough for Toronto to nab a single point by forcing overtime.

Then it’s the road games against teams like Nashville, Buffalo and Detroit. Buffalo is the start of a back-to-back and being only a few hours down the road it’s almost a home game for the Leafs. If any road game is up for a loss it’s Nashville.

It’s an 885-mile distance to cover in the span of 48hrs to play a team that’s absolutely buzzing like we all saw just yesterday.

That’s seven points dropped for a total of 94 points.

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