That cute little playoff hope thing might be coming to an end for the Toronto Maple Leafs. With their loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night, the Leafs have now fallen back six points back of the eighth and final playoff spot -- and that's with two teams ahead of them in the race, as well.
Lightning Vs. Maple Leafs: Bolts Chase James Reimer, Hurt Toronto’s Playoff Hopes
To make things worse for Toronto, forward Colby Armstrong took a puck off the foot while blocking a shot in the second period, and according to reports, it looks like he'll be out for the season.
This night was really about the Lightning, though, who brushed off a recent stretch of mediocre play and came out blazing in Toronto. They've dropped from the second position in recent weeks, although the surge of the Washington Capitals has a bit to do with that as well, and they've fallen into the less-than-enviable fifth spot in the East.
Mattias Ritola led them on Monday night, scoring two goals in the second period to break a tie and give the Bolts a lead they would never look back on. Toronto pulled James Reimer in the third period after he allowed five goals on 29 shots, and while those numbers don't seem horrible (could be worse, right?), he looked discombobulated and fatigued throughout his time in the crease.
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