Maple Leafs Vs. Canadiens: Phil Kessel’s Big Night Brings Toronto Closer To Playoffs

Okay, done? Yeah, didn't think you'd believe it if we just said it, so we figured the visual evidence would be best. The Toronto Maple Leafs are just four points out of the NHL playoffs. At 27-27-1, good for 23rd best in the NHL, the Leafs are just four back of 8th place Carolina in the East.

That might be a sign that the East is extremely mediocre (at least if you're listening to Western Conference fans), especially since Toronto would be fledgling down in 13th place if they still played in the Central Division. But, of course, they don't, and last night's hectic, back-and-forth victory over the hated Montreal Canadiens was just another realization that -- holy hell, this team could be playoff bound.

It's not that fake "oh my God the Devils are gonna make the playoffs!!!1" hype, either. The Leafs have a legitimate shot at it. They're 8-2-2 since the All-Star break and perhaps of utmost importance, Phil Kessel is actually scoring at will right now. He had four points on Thursday night and he now has eight points in his last six. In an absolutely huge game -- both mentally and literally -- at Bell Centre, Kessel stepped up and delivered.