LGD: Computer boys

You may have forgotten it in the holiday haze of booze and tryptophan, but the Leafs are on a little winning streak right now and have actually positioned themselves nicely to make the climb for a playoff spot in the new year. As things currently stand, thanks to that pair of road wins against Colorado and Arizona prior to the Christmas break, Toronto is just five points back of the Bruins for third in the Atlantic, with FOUR games in hand. It’s right there for them, but they still have to keep pace and eventually leap a couple teams in the process, including their opponent tonight, the Fancy Cats of Florida.

These points are important.

Santa didn’t bother bringing the Leafs a new third-pairing, I see.

Hard to come to grips with the Leafs parting with noted first-liner, Seth Griffith. He must be filling the net. Oh, four points in 16 games? That takes the sting off.

You tell ’em, Steve.

According to Daily Faceoff, Andersen, with his 0.923 save-percentage (!), has been confirmed for the Leafs. Luongo is the likely starter for Florida. I think Marner may have ruined Reimer forever in the last game, so it isn’t surprising he won’t get another shot at his old team.

Auston Matthews. Always watch out for Auston Matthews, now tied for 6th in the league in goals (with company like Ovechkin and Tarasenko) after blowing the doors off December. I actually couldn’t wait for Christmas to be over so I could watch Matthews play hockey for the Leafs again.