Leafs look good halfway through, but playoffs are true test

Leafs are halfway through the NHL schedule with less than 10 regulation losses. They are ahead in the division of one nemesis (Tampa Bay) and 11 points behind the other (Boston). They have beaten Boston once and split with the Lightning. They play four games remaining against both teams. The team is headed to their seventh straight post-season qualification. Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray have shown capability within a well-executed system. But another early exit and no one will remember how great the Leafs looked in January.

Murray and Samsonov have been good for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They ranked 4-5 in league save percentage a couple of weeks ago and both won pre-break games.

Matthews and Marner were broken up and it's better for the team. Nylander is leading the way with 22 goals. Calle Jarnkrok is the missing ingredient in the top six. The jury is still out on the five forward power play.

When four defencemen were injured at once, the farm support didn't disappoint. Erik Kallgren, Mac Hollowell, Joey Anderson and Pontus Holmberg all made a mark. Jordie Benn and Victor Mete were among those making the most of staying busy in the AHL games.

Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin are back from injuries and are playing together in a regular tandem. LilJegran was once considered a bigger question mark than Sandins.

Conor Timmins, Dryden Hunt, Zach Aston-Reese and Holmberg have been impressive for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Leafs are halfway through the season. They have been hit by injuries. They lost both starting goalies and their top net prospect Joseph Woll. Jake Muzzin is injured and Robertson is out for the rest of the year.

Denis Malgin didn't stick with the Leafs a second time. Nicholas Aube-Kubel went to Washington via waivers.

Leafs are still getting stiff opposition from Arizona, St. Louis and in general there's always a nagging feeling about them losing crucial points to beatable teams.

Leafs are second in the league in giveaways per 60 minutes. Toronto is one of the few teams in that category that is making mistakes.

Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph are not on the road to call radio games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Leafs are halfway through the season. March 3 is the NHL trade deadline. Dubas has to get any big move right after the additions of Nick Foligno, Tomas Plekanec and Alex Galchenyuk didn't impact in the playoffs as expected.

Leafs are halfway through the season. They play Boston next week and the Lightning on February 1st. Back-to-back games against Nashville and Detroit are on the schedule.

Matthews and Mitch Marner are playing for the post-season advancement. Mitch is the first Leaf named to next month's All-Star Game in South Florida.

Leafs are halfway through the season. Muzzin is re-assessed after months off with his cervical spine injury. Carl Dahlstrom is a dark horse to come through his own lengthy shoulder surgery and boost playoff depth.

The Gardiner pipeline to coach Greg Moore’s Marlies must keep flowing. Hollowell, Nick Abruzzese, Anderson, Adam Gaudette and Bobby McMann are all possibilities to play for the Marlie's. Joseph Woll is 8-0-1 after his latest comeback from injury.

Leafs are halfway through the season. John Tavares believes they need to keep pushing. He believes the team was playing at a high level in November and mid-December.

Leafs are halfway through the season. Mitch Marner is happy with the team's progress.

Leafs are halfway through the season. Morgan Rielly believes they have a chance to work on some things and build some confidence.

Sheldon Keefe is happy to be at the checkpoint, but reminds himself there's still a lot of hockey to play.