Leafs Or Jackets Who has a better chance of making the playoffs?

Answer 1

Don't look now Jackets' haters - but the #1 goaltender in hockey, with a 1.25 GAA and three shutouts ISN'T in Toronto.

Rick Nash is playing better than ever and is on a point streak.

Nick Zherdev is playing with a good attitude for a change, and is also racking up points.

The Jackets have shut out the Stanley Cup Champions and the President's Trophy winner (in their barn).

Ask this question again when the two teams meat.

Answer 2

I'll go against the grain and pick the Jackets to make, but go no further than the first round.

1. Ken Hitchcock. Except for one brief, anomalous period, he's been a very successful head coach. He's already made a significant impact on the play and attitude of the CBJ.

2. Although there's no certified #1 goaltender, the competition between Leclair and Norrena has raised the game of both.

3. At some point the Leafs will realize their position and hold a fire sale.

4. Aliens have kidnapped Nik Zherdev and replaced him with someone who passes the puck and stands up for his teammates. lol.

Answer 3

Reality check. It's a tossup.

The Leafs defence is the worst in the league at the moment with few signs they're going to get better anytime soon. The team has given up more goals than any other team, and more than twice the number some teams have given up. Where's the young Mike Peca when you need him? The old one's in Columbus.

Last week Toskala faced nearly 100 shots in two games. 100 shots! It's like he had a Junior B team playing in front of him!

The question Leafs coaching staff is facing: How do you teach a team full of one-way players how to play in their own end in a few short weeks.

Answer 4

Toronto has a better shot because of these factors:

One, talent. Specifically the defense and goaltending. Any given night, goalies Andrew Raycroft or Vesa Toskala can put Toronto in a position to win. Columbus's best goalie, Pascale LeClaire, doesn't have anywhere near as much talent as either of Toronto's goalies. On defense, Adam Foote anchors a blueline corps of either unproven or never-been players. Toronto's corps of Tomas Kaberle, Bryan McCabe and co. is much more balanced with young veteran players. Columbus has some ok offensive threats (if they can stay healthy because two of them are pretty old), in Sergei Federov, Michael Peca, and Rick Nash, but without good defensive play and good goaltending, it won't be enough to carry them to mid-April.

Another determining factor would be the division and conference that each team plays in. So far, Detroit, St. Louis, and Chicago are off to a much better start than Columbus, and the other two divisions in the west are so good that I believe only two playoff teams will make it out of the central, Detroit and re-tooled St. Louis, who will finally get some good press this weekend when they take on unbeaten Minnesota. If Toronto can win crucial games against their own division rivals, such as Buffalo, Montreal, and Boston, they may be able to keep pace with the defending conference champion Ottawa Senators.

However, both teams have a lot of work to do for this to happen, especially considering it takes about 95 points in the new NHL to make it into the second season.

Answer 5

Leafs. They have more players with playoff experience than Jackets.

Answer 6

I'll give the edge to the Leafs due to the fact that the Eastern Conference is typically "weaker." I wouldn't expect to see either though.

Answer 7

Hahahahahahahaha.

There is no way the Jackets can hang around with the big boys and get by Nashville or Colorado or Calgary to grab a spot. Not with that lineup.

Answer 8

Jackets. Leclaire is going to be tough this year, their young guns (Brule...) will pick it up for Calder consideration, and another trade will bring in some more depth on D. watch

Answer 9

Leafs!!! They are way better!!!!!!

Answer 10

Shouldnt even have to ask it.

Leafs Obviously.