Leafs Have a Golden Opportunity to Ramp Up Pressure on the Panthers This Week

The Maple Leafs have been fighting with the Panthers all year for top spot in the Atlantic, and with only a dozen games left; it's going to be a true stress test of how Toronto can handle the pressure of a deep playoff run.

Come Tuesday, things could be looking very good for the team so long as they end up coming out strong against Philadelphia.

With a regulation victory, Toronto will have the tiebreaker and leapfrog the Panthers in the standings which would be a huge advantage come playoff time.

With a schedule with some really weak teams coming up, it's important that the team keeps the foot on the gas and can't let up.

Florida also doesn't play until Friday, and with the Maple Leafs up against the lowly Sharks as well as the Flyers, those are two must-win games.

Last time around it was a disappointment as San Jose came out with the shootout victory, and it would spell disaster for them if San Jose was victorious again.

They need to start learning some more discipline, not only so they take less egregious penalties, but give Toronto's struggling penalty kill a break.

They gave up five goals to the worst scoring team in the league including two shorthanded goals; it's not the type of play indicative of a strong playoff team.

It's going to take a full team effort, and it's time for guys like Scott Laughton to start getting things going.

Pointless since arriving at the trade deadline, he faces his old team on Tuesday and needs to be equally motivated to not only help Toronto but show Philly they were wrong to have traded him, cause right now it looks like Daniel Briere pulled off an absolute steal.

Come April, the Leafs play Florida twice, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Columbus with only Buffalo and Detroit the weaker teams to beat; these next few games are going to make or break the team.

If Toronto can learn from their mistakes and take advantage of the weaker teams while they still can, it'll lead them to a lot of success and very well could bring them an Atlantic Division title.

But if it's more of the same? Look for another quick first round exit, and say goodbye to any chance of Mitch Marner sticking around.