from Michael Traikos at the Toronto Sun,

As disappointing as the Leafs have been this year, they haven’t been nearly as bad as the Florida Panthers, who are currently chasing Toronto down for third place in the Atlantic Division. Well, chasing might not be the right word in what has become a turtle race for one of the final playoff spots.

At the All-Star Break, both teams were tied with 61 points, though Florida had played two less games. Today, Toronto has a five-point lead with both having played the same number of games.

The most frustrating part for Tallon is how it’s happened. It’s not that the Leafs are running away with the playoff spot — it’s that the Panthers have let it slip from their hands.

“It was there for the taking,” said Tallon at Monday’s GM meetings.

Instead, Florida has played its worst hockey when it needed its best. Since the All-Star Break, the Leafs have gone 8-6-1. That’s a 92-point pace, which wouldn’t have been good enough to qualify for a playoff spot a year ago.

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