done.

Mathematically, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still in the playoff race but you know.

“Look, mostly meaningless hockey is a lot more interesting than watching completely meaningless hockey. ” - Damien Cox for The Spin

Sitting through Saturday’s caliber-lacking game was as painful as the injuries Toronto’s players endured - well almost. Nothing is in stone but, is it possible that the Leafs threw that game? Putting goal tender Andrew Raycroft in net would have done a much simpler job at such a task but that move may have been too obvious. I doubt that a team of grown male athletes would mentally and physically collapse because two of their top players are out but hey, you know.

The Leafs looked burnt out against the Buffalo Sabres who were on a slide - of course that ended Saturday night. Being paid millions to be top athletes and having not played since back-to-back games against Philadelphia Tuesday and Wednesday night, exhaustion should not be an excuse for the loss. Funny enough, I hadn’t heard one Leaf player try.

Wednesday’s victory in Philly suggested that the Leafs could survive a game without their captain Mats Sundin. Despite how much I adore Antropov, TML did survive 3 games earlier this year without him. With Sundin and Antropov both gone? Apparently the Leafs are no good.

Before Toronto played Philadelphia on Tuesday, most articles read that the Toronto Maple Leafs would have to win 11 of their next 12 games. What was of high importance was what team they lost those two points too. Buffalo was a team that Toronto needed to snatch two points from based on standings. Giving one point to Philly was not the worst thing that could happen, but you know.

The fact is we all know that you can’t start playing your top game three-quarters into the season. The Leafs are obviously not a hockey club of playoff material. TML fans watched last season on Easter weekend as Toronto’s playoff hopes were held in the hands of the New Jersey Devils. This spring, I don’t believe there’s an ounce of hope at all.