Toronto Barely Hanging On With 11 Games To Go

[Devise 4,475]

It would likely still be too premature to say that the Toronto Legion are out of the playoff race. They sit only 4 points behind the 3rd point NA team in the New York Americans, with a game in hand and 11 games to go. The defending back to back Continental Cup champions may not have a chance to attempt to defend their title in the playoffs at this rate, as despite struggles from both Vancouver and New York throughout the season Toronto hasn't been able to get a streak going since one just after the early point in the season. 

 

While the Legion have remained consistent since that point, winning about just as much as they are losing, it has left in the position to be unable to take advantage of the dips in standings that both the teams in front of them have taken at certain points. Now as NYA struggles to end the season the Legion are presented another opportunity to push their way back in. Toronto GM Ryan Power spoke with media about the last leg of the season and the attempted playoff push.

 

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I don't think we are out of it yet, not when you look at the trends. But I felt like we had this moment earlier in the season and we just couldn't capitalize on it. Especially as our schedule lightened, we were losing games we should of won. But we had back up games to play then too, and right now we realize it's on us to turn those missed opportunities into meaningless by winning out as much of the last 11 games as we can. If you look at New York who is the likely team we are to catch in the standings they are 2-7-1 in their last ten. While our 4-4-2 isn't anything to write home about either, technically if both teams just continued that pace Toronto would outpace New York in that instance. But we want to do more than that, and we know they may not struggle to finish the season as they have last stretch. If we can win at least 6 of our 11 remaining games I really feel like we'll be in the playoffs. But our focus is one game at a time, and winning as many as we can right now. We only have one heads up game left against NY and we feel like they have the tougher schedule. Then again, in today's parity VHL "tougher schedule" means very little. But our group is calm, confident, and is going to leave it all on the ice to end the season.