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# Monday's FTB: Fun Factoids
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/mondays-ftb-fun-factoids/
- Published: 2017-01-16T13:50:55.000Z
- Updated: 2017-01-16T13:50:55.000Z
- Description: The Leafs are riding high as they prepare to face the Sabres tomorrow night.
- Author: Acting the Fulemin
- Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 10:50

We're heading into a make-or-break part of the season, but things are sunny in Leafland.

- The Leafs are in a playoff spot and even threatening to finish second (!) in the Atlantic. They're three points back of second-place Boston with five games in hand.
- The Leafs are tied for the second-best record in their last ten in the whole NHL--both they and Minnesota have put up 8-1-1\. Only Washington (9-0-1) is better--and the Leafs pushed Washington to overtime in their most recent meeting (Washington is the Leafs' OTL in that 8-1-1.)
- Knock aggressively on wood, but the Leafs' NHL roster has maintained an extremely healthy top nine at forward and top four on defence; only a few missed games from Tyler Bozak mar the picture. A big portion of this is very good luck, but a portion is also youth--of those thirteen players, only Bozak and Leo Komarov are over 27.
- This one's a little involved, but it's fun. Take the thirty teams in the NHL, and rank 'em 1-30 based on their 5v5 adjusted CF%, how close their shots-for are, and how distant their shots-against are. Average those three rankings into one overall ranking. The #1 team in the league? Toronto./

If the Leafs can get through their murderous February schedule in solid shape--a tall order, but not impossible--we're probably going to be the first team in a decade to go from last in the league to a playoff spot.

###   
ICYMI

[Katya: Kasperi Kapanen Injured](http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-prospects/2017/1/15/14278012/kasperi-kapanen-injured-just-as-promotion-speculation-was-heating-up-toronto-maple-leafs-marlies) Unfortunately, that great Leafs' health hasn't protected the Marlies, as hotshot winger--and probable best player--Kasperi Kapanen is now injured.

[Katya: Euro Prospect Report](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/european-report-everyone-is-back-at-work-again-toronto-maple-leafs/) Carl Grundstrom continues to raise hell.

[Fanpost: When \_\_\_\_ Scores A Goal](http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2017/1/13/14252270/when-scores-a-goal) In cherished PPP tradition, commenter JimboJet takes a swing at a dumb statistic.

### Links

[The Athletic: Nikita Zaitsev Profile](https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F33504%2F2017%2F01%2F16%2Fnikita-zaitsev-from-obscurity-and-turmoil-in-russia-to-the-maple-leafs-top-pairing%2F&v=3&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) A look at the Leafs' new top RHD. CSKA Moscow apparently wants him back, so Lou may have a bidding war on his hands as Zaitsev goes RFA this summer. Zaitsev seems to like it here, though. (I've linked this because it's generally good, but there's a dumbo quote about Russian work ethic that shouldn't have made it into the piece.)

[TLN Monday Mailbag](http://theleafsnation.com/2017/1/16/tln-monday-mailbag-january-16th?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Our friendly rival Jeffler answers his mail. I don't think he does nearly enough insane Pokémon and philosophy questions, but matter of taste I suppose.

[MLHS: Mike Babcock Quotes On Auston Matthews](https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2017/01/12/mike-babcock-on-auston-matthews-his-ability-without-the-puck-has-gone-through-the-roof-very-quickly/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Babs has been very impressed with Auston's play without the puck.

[The Ice Garden: An Open Letter To Hayley Wickenheiser](http://www.theicegarden.com/2017/1/14/14271544/an-open-letter-to-hayley-wickenheiser?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) A fan pays tribute to one of the most iconic hockey players in history upon her retirement.

[SBN: NHL To Scrap Breakaway Skills Competition](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2017/1/14/14276664/nhl-all-star-skills-competition-breakaway-challenge?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) People seemed to be enjoying the goofiness of the breakaway competition, and of course we can't have that.

Have a wonderful day, everyone. It's going to be touch and go, but we're cheering for the most exciting Leafs team since Mats.