from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

My colleagues Katie Strang and Craig Custance were politely dismissive of my suggestion during our podcast taping Wednesday that perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't entirely cooked in the playoff chase, despite the horror show of their current six-game losing streak.

Take a look at the Leafs' next two games, though: at Philadelphia on Friday and at home against Detroit on Saturday. Tell me those aren't season-saving opportunities.

Further, maybe we've been a bit hasty in ceding the resurgent Flyers a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. On Wednesday night, the Flyers lost their second in a row, dropping a key 3-1 decision to the New York Rangers, with whom they have been battling for home-ice advantage in the first round. The loss not only moves the Rangers three points up on the Flyers but also means Philadelphia remains just three points up on the Leafs, who are in a logjam with Detroit, Columbus and Washington at 80 points heading into action Thursday.

After Friday's key matchup with the Leafs, the Flyers entertain Boston on Sunday and then travel to St. Louis before hosting Columbus a week from now. Now, about that game Friday night in Philly...

read on for Custance on the Canucks and Strang on Zetterberg...