The Leafs are no stranger to late-season surges, but this year's run seems a little different.
Guess it's time to take this latest Toronto Maple Leafs late-season surge a little more seriously.
It's not like we haven't seen it before. The Maple Leafs have made a habit of falling way out of the playoff race by late January only to put together a late winning streak the teases Leafs Nation only to fall short.
This one has a little bit of a different feel to it, eh?
The Leafs, who were 14 points out of a playoff spot not so long ago, have not lost in regulation in their last 13. At the same time, rookie goaltender James Reimer has emerged as money in the bank between the pipes. If not for a bump on the head that caused him to leave Sunday's game in Atlanta with his team ahead 2-0, a game the Leafs eventually lost 3-2 in overtime with Jean-Sebastien Giguere blowing the lead, the Leafs would be riding a three-game winning streak having beaten Pittsburgh at home Wednesday night.
Toronto coach Ron Wilson was obviously delighted when talking about the monster win against the best team in the Eastern Conference in Philadelphia.
"It's a young group that is enjoying each other and wants to be successful," Wilson said. "Some of the lumps we took and learned from early in the year have caused them to be better hockey players for it."
Indeed.
Another player who has picked up his game -- many would suggest it's about time! -- is defenceman Dion Phaneuf. The much-maligned captain has been a little more physical at times and has chipped in with two goals in the last four games. His four goals and 20 points in 49 games is a far cry from the gaudy numbers he put up in his first three years in the NHL with the Calgary Flames when he was identified as a future Norris Trophy winner, but if he can contribute as the Leafs continue their unlikely charge toward the playoffs, he'll be painted in a much more favourable light moving forward.
"(Dion) has had a few bumps and bruises that have prevented him from being as physical (as he'd like), but he's getting closer to being 100 per cent," Wilson said. "You can see it in his skating and the offence he is bringing."
Good play and winning streak aside, Toronto is still three points out of the playoffs, tenth in the East and the Buffalo Sabres, who lead them by a point, have two games in hand. The good news is Toronto has two games remaining against Buffalo.
Big, bad Bruin
Just when it looked like the Milan Lucic train had gone off the track, it is back on course and steaming down the runway.
Lucic suffered injuries that caused his play to dip in his third NHL year when he dropped to nine goals and 20 points in 50 games after an impressive sophomore season during which he scored 17 goals and 42 points in 72 games.
This year, as the Bruins have built themselves into a bona-fide Stanley Cup contender, Lucic has become his team's best all-around player. A physical force, Lucic leads the Bruins in goals with 28, is third in points with 47 and second in penalty minutes with 97. Not exactly Hart Trophy numbers, but there's no denying his value to the Bruins.
At just 22-years old, Lucic's best years are ahead of him, but there is no doubt he is a major contributor on a team with very high expectations.
Odds and ends
If the Columbus Blue Jackets are to make the playoffs, they need captain Rick Nash to stay hot. Nash had scored five goals and 12 points in an eight-game span, but has just one assist in his last four games and no goals in his last three…
At age 40, Anaheim's Teemu Selanne still has plenty of game. The Finnish Flash continues to be a vibrant player with 20 goals and 58 points in 55 games. Here's hoping he'll continue to bless us with his presence in the NHL for another year or two…
It is no surprise that Jarome Iginla has assumed his usual spot amongst the NHL's top 10 scorers, but you'd have to say it is somewhat shocking that his linemate, Alex Tanguay, is in the top 30. Tanguay was awful with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and many were surprised when former Flames GM Darryl Sutter brought him back to Calgary for this season. Tanguay has rewarded Sutter and the Flames with a terrific bounce-back year during which he has 18 goals and 53 points in 63 games.
