Atlantic Master Tightens: Maple Leaves, Lightning and Black Panthers in Hunting – Hockey Writer –

The Atlantic Division playoff game is heating and settled as Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face the Tampa Bay Chargers Wednesday night. The first three teams are almost locked in, but they are still competing for positioning. The lowest team will make the playoffs look safe, too, but can they show up well when they get there?

Related: Lightning and Maple Leaf face to face in key division showdowns

The Maple Leafs are currently ranked first with 98 points, leading the Chargers with 96 points, and following closely behind. The Panthers followed closely with 94 points, second as we approached the final game of the season. Although Toronto’s playoff position has been secured, tonight’s game could impact who is taking the most favorable spot in the standings.

Three leaders of the Atlantic Division: Toronto, Tampa Bay and Florida

Toronto maintained the season’s consistency with a record of 47-26-4, but recently showed some vulnerability. They sometimes have inconsistencies, as evidenced by Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Panthers. Nevertheless, they have taken the upper hand with a 7-2-1 record in the last 10 games. The Maple Leafs were comfortable in the playoffs under the core quad-core leadership of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and the eternal John Tavares. Now, getting a Home-Ice advantage in the first round could be a key motivation, especially given their 25-13-1 home record.

Despite the slightly worse record, the Lightning is heating up, 6-3-1 in the last 10 games. They have firepower, especially in the game with top player Nikita Kucherov, who has scored 34 goals and 81 assists (115 points) in 73 games. Their ability to improve their playoff level is always a factor. Although they have some inconsistencies on the road (18-18-4), they have performed well at home (27-8-2), and this game against Toronto may be in determining who is second in the department and home ice advantage in a potential playoff series.

Related: NHL Rumor Shooting: Tavarez won’t take hostages of Maple Leaf

The Panthers were injured with 45 wins and 94 points. Their recent performance has been shaky, with a record of 4-5-1 in the last 10 games. Aleksander Barkov returned with injury last night and Florida performed strongly at home (25-11-2). However, their struggle on the road (20-18-2) could be a problem when they enter the playoffs. Their defense and goalkeepers are reliable, but they need to regain consistency to work in depth. If they get the entire lineup back in enough time, that could be an important factor. The Panthers are a solid team and defending Cup champion.

The rest of the Atlantic Division: Senators, Canadians, Red Wings and the Future

In the rankings, the Senators have a 42-30-6 record this season. Their playoff photos are safe under their new goalkeeper Linus Ullmark, their tough nail captain Brady Tkachuk and a group of young men starting to stride. Now, the question seems to be whether they can do well in their first playoffs since 2017. Their stable 24-11-2 home record gave them hope for the playoffs. However, their 18-19-4 highway record has many shortcomings.

The Montreal Canadiens have been on the rise this season, but the team has shown promise. They ended their strength with 87 points and won six straight wins. While their 17-18-4 road record and negative target difference (-17) are a problem, they may also be disruptors in the upcoming game. Like the Senators, the Canadians are young men, such as captain Nick Suzuki (28 goals and 86 points in 78 games) and emerging young Blueliner Lane Hutson (6 goals and 58 assists in 78 games) who started to play their skills.

Related: What Maple Leafs have to keep doing to get the playoffs

On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wing has been out of the way. Their playoff chances are small, with 79 points and a record of 36-34-7. The tough 15-18-4 road record and inconsistent game make it unlikely that they will face serious challenges in the playoffs.

Has the Atlantic branch settled?

Maple Leaf, Lightning and Black Panthers are locked in the top three. No uncertainty as to how the final ranking will evaporate seems to be certain. Strong performance of maple leaves or lightning may affect who gets the key first place and the advantage of home ice. Florida’s recent struggle has made it vulnerable, but the Panthers are still firmly playing, as evidenced by their last night’s game against Maple Leaf.

In short, while the top three are mainly settled, the exact order is still being snapped up. When we get into the playoffs, there is still a lot to do. Maple Leaf, Lightning and Panthers all have a chance to rest assured that the upcoming head-on finale will be key. The excitement of the Atlantic Division is far from over.