A couple of days ago this conversation would have been a lot different. The Boston Bruins did and currently still do look pretty much unbeatable. That being said, since the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to waltz into the Honda Center in Southern California on Monday night and absolutely dominate the Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks on the road, we now have to give the Buds the benefit of the doubt. If the Leafs can continue to play well against some of the NHL’s best down the stretch, there’s no reason to believe that they can’t at least give the Boston Bruins a run for their money.

Will the Leafs actually catch the Bruins in the race for top spot in the Atlantic Division with less than 20 games to go on their schedule? I am going to have to say probably not, but it sure is going to be a lot of fun watching them try. As their defense gets better and continues to contribute on the scoreboard, and Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk continue to be fed impressive passes by Tyler Bozak that allows them to get in alone on opposing goalies, the Leafs can and will continue to beat anyone they go up against.

The one thing that the Leafs have going against them in regards to potentially catching the Bruins is that they have somewhat run out of time. After Tuesday night, the Bruins have three games in hand on the Leafs and the two Atlantic Division rivals only face-off against each other one more time before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin in mid April. No matter how well the Leafs are playing as of right now, that is a lot of ground to make up on the division leading Bruins.

Although there is little time left for the Leafs to gain control of the Atlantic Division over the Bruins, it’s not something that should concern the Buds all that much. Barring any disaster of them falling out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference, the Leafs are exactly where they want to be in regards to the standings. They shouldn’t have to play the likes of the Bruins or the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, they will most likely go up against a fifth or a sixth seed in the Montreal Canadiens or the New York Rangers, which would undoubtedly prepare them for a rematch with the Bruins that would see them trying their best to avenge last year’s game seven, first round meltdown against Boston. The Leafs wouldn’t want to have it any other way.