from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

The first-place Leafs, who play in Winnipeg on Wednesday and Friday, have a half-dozen games remaining against the second-place Jets.

For fans, it’s yet another playoff preview, a chance to see how the top two teams in Canada match up against one another. For the Leafs, it’s more than that. It’s a chance to hang on to the top spot in the North Division and put some more distance between themselves and a team that is just one point back of them in the standings.

Toronto has 47 points. Winnipeg, which has played one more game, has 46 points. Edmonton, which has also played one more game than Toronto, has 45 points.

In other words, the division is still up for grabs. And it could be decided by these next six games.

Whoever finishes first will get home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Normally, that’s huge. But in a year where fans are not allowed inside the arena, where you play is far less important than whom you will play.

And if you’re the Leafs, you would much rather not have to play Winnipeg or Edmonton — at least, not until the second round.

Forget about the bragging rights of being the best in Canada. Delaying the inevitable should be the goal right now.

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