Aside from Washington losing in OT instead of regulation, last night's game went exactly how the Leafs needed them to. Except for that whole losing their own game thing. That one stung. The Leafs need an 11-5 record from here on out to hit what looks to be a truly abysmal 89pts for entrance to the Playoffs...something I'd feel a lot more optimistic about were they not facing the hottest team in the league tonight.

Carolina Hurricanes (+0.3) at Buffalo Sabres (-0.2)

I liked it better when the Sabres were sitting in the basement and everyone count point at laugh at Terry Pegula for over spending on stiffs. We can still point and laugh, but they're only 4pts back of Winnipeg and playing a whole lot better than the Leafs. It's go Leafs South tonight!

Toronto Maple Leafs (+6.3) at Pittsburgh Penguins (-4.2)

Brad Thiessen sucks right? He better because Gu5tav55on is in net and the Hart Trophy favorite isn't going to be wearing the same color jersey.

Your Death Number update after the jump.

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Back by popular demand, it's the Maple Leafs Fan Cheering Guide. It got too depressing writing these when every night, nearly every game didn't go the Leafs way and the Leafs lost 9 out of 10. But now, there's a new sheriff in town, Grabbo got extended, and somehow we're only 5pts back of 8th in the East with 2 games in hand. What sucks though? Those two games comes tonight and tomorrow against Boston (oof) and Pittsburgh (fuuuuuuuuuu).

On to the games!

Carolina Hurricanes (+1.7) at Washington Capitals (-0.9)

It's far more important that the Leafs catch and pass Washington that it is if Carolina somehow catches the Leafs. Fortunately for the Buds, Washington is pulling a Toronto at the moment and pissing away their season after having been a bubble team all season long.

Ottawa Senators (+0.2) at Tampa Bay Lightning (+0.2)

I'm calling an audible and telling you to ignore what the numbers say on this game. We're not catching Ottawa, and if Tampa stays hot we might not catch them either. It hurts my innards to say this, but G0 SENS G0!

New York Rangers (+0.2) at New Jersey Devils (-0.2)

Rangers Death Number? 10. Devils? 24. Go Rangers.

Detroit Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers

Go Winter Classic rivals! and last but not least;

Boston Bruins (-5.9) at Toronto Maple Leafs (+6.9)

SIXTY-NINE DUDE! GO LEAFS GO!

Death March is upon us. The long, painful road to either the Playoffs or the draft lottery now lies before the Leafs. Despite the worst 10 game stretch of any team so far this season, the Leafs are somehow only 3pts back of 8th with a game in hand. I know, I'm confused by this too. I guess the explanation lies somewhere in the middle of a) salary cap induced parity, b) Western domination over the East, c) Washington pooping the bed against the rest of the SE, and d) the Leafs not being able to put this thing away by going .500 thru February.

With the regular season ending in 33 days, I figured it was time to bust out the Death Number Calculator of DOOM! It tracks the number of points that a team needs to gain, or the Leafs need to lose, that would make catching that team a mathematical impossibility. Can the Leafs stave off hearing the playoff knell for a 7th straight season by beating out 7 other teams? Let's find out: (Spreadsheet will be updated daily here. Death numbers post day after every Leafs game.)

17 games left in the season and 34 points up for grabs. LET'S GO!

Edit: Spreadsheet now updated with death numbers for all Eastern Conference teams.

Western Conference to be added tonight.

Today is Valentines Day, and if the rest of the league loves the Leafs as much as we all do, then they'll make sure the other games tonight so according to plan.

Ottawa Senators (-1.2) at Tampa Bay Lightning (+1.4)

Failing to pick up a W and pass the Senators last week, the Leafs get another chance to do so tonight with a win in the Saddledome and a Senators loss in Tampa. Let's hope Steven Stamkos goes full Rocket Richard tonight and that Craig Anderson goes full Craig Anderson.

New Jersey Devils (-0.4) at Buffalo Sabres (+0.6)

With a game in hand on the Leafs, the Devils are a real threat to the Buds' Playoff hopes. Hopefully the Sabres forget that at this point their season is over, and go about screwing up their lottery pick by playing their guts out and beating the Devils tonight. It also helps that Ryan Miller has seemingly returned to form and Martin Brodeur is a shell of his former self.

New York Islanders (+0.8) at Winnipeg Jets (-0.5)

A win by the Isles tonight and they vault they push the Montreal Canadiens down to 12th or 13th (with a Tampa win tonight as well). Now that's something we can all cheer.

And lastly Toronto Maple Leafs (+6.1) at Calgary Flames (-7.6)

The Leafs need to put the brakes on this skid and get back in the win column. Hopefully the rash of injuries to the Flames makes doing so a little easier. Go Leafs Go!

Let's get right to it shall we?

Florida Panthers (-0.3) at New Jersey Devils (+0.4)

This one's underway and currently 1-1 in the 2nd. With the South East shaping up to be a total cluster cuss, we want whoever finishes in 2nd there to be out of the Playoff picture. Go Devils.

New York Rangers (+0.1) at Philadelphia Flyers (-0.1)

We aren't catching the Rangers so let's let them steal as many points from the rest of the Conference as they can.

Winnipeg Jets (-0.7) at Pittsburgh Penguins (+0.6)

Another outcome trying to make the South East loser finish 9th.

Tampa Bay Lightning (-0.1) at Buffalo Sabres (+0.1)

See above.

Nashville Predators at Boston Bruins

Los Angeles Kings (+0.2) at New York Islanders (-0.1)

Edmonton Oilers (+1.6) at Ottawa Senators (-0.9)

West is hopefully the best.

Last night wasn't just bad for the Leafs, it was apocalypticly bad. Every single matchup went counter to what would have best benefited the Leafs most, with only the Blues winning in overtime being the one slightly good thing by taking a point away from Jersey. What a shitty night. Tonight will be different however. Different because the outcomes of tonight's games have little to no impact on the Leafs' Playoffs hopes, thus it's possible for things to go wrong! Huzzah!

Dallas Stars (+0.2) at Buffalo Sabres (-0.2)

West Coast is the best coast.

Carolina Hurricanes (0.0) at Colorado Avalanche (0.0)

This one's easy. Cheer for a Colorado win so they don't end up giving Washington a lottery pick at the draft.

Before Tuesday the Leafs' chance for a Playoff berth was around 90%, it could get back there after tonight with a win against Philly and some help from around the league.

Winnipeg Jets (0.0) at Washington Capitals (+0.2)

Atlanta is but 6 points back of the Leafs and somebody has to win the South Least and finish "3rd" in the conference. It might as well be the team already there, though should the Leafs finish 6th Florida would make a better opponent. Take your pick here because it doesn't hurt Toronto either way.

Tampa Bay Lightning (-0.3) at New York Rangers (+0.1)

I'm not sure how a team 11 points back with less than 30 games to play would hurt the Leafs by winning, but there you have it. With Boston's struggles, ain't nobody catching the Rangers so let them win all the games they want.

Montreal Canadiens (-0.1) at New York Islanders (+0.2)

Finally we don't have to cheer for good things to happen to the Habs.

Nashville Predators (+1.0) at Ottawa Senators (-0.8)

Los Angeles Kings (+0.7) at Florida Panthers (-0.6)

St. Louis Blues (+0.3) at New Jersey Devils (-0.2)

Go Western Conference Go!

Toronto Maple Leafs (+4.1, +4.1, +3.8) at Philadelphia Flyers (-3.8, +0.3, +0.4)

So long as they don't lose in regulation, it's a good night for the Buds. That's being said, GO LEAFS GO! Kick some Flyers ass!

After the dust settles tonight, the Leafs could find themselves anywhere from 5th to 8th in the East. Needless to say, it's a very big night for the Buds so let's get right to it.

New Jersey Devils (-0.3) at New York Rangers (+0.2)

New Jersey sits 1 point up on the Leafs with a game in hand and are riding a 4 game win streak as they head across the Hudson to MSG tonight. A Blue Shirts win would go a long way in stopping the Devils running away with a Playoff berth. It's Go Rangers for this one.

New York Islanders (+0.04) at Philadelphia Flyers (-0.02)

Despite great early season play, the Flyers have hit the skids recently losing two straight and sit only 4 points ahead of the Leafs with a game in hand. Currently it looks like 4 Atlantic Division teams will make the dance, but inter-divisional coming up in the home stretch may just relegate one of PHI, PIT, or NJD to the bottom half of the conference. Therefore, we should all hope for general mediocrity amongst that bunch. Go Islanders is your cheer.

Florida Panthers (+0.2) at Washington Capitals (0.0)

Somebody from the South East has to make the Playoffs, and right now it looks as though the runner-up will miss the Playoffs entirely meaning this game doesn't hurt the Leafs chances at all. That being said, if we jump over to Ottawa's chance page, we can see a Florida win benefits their chances more, so tonight we cheer on the Capitals.

More match ups and their impact on the Leafs after the jump.

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