It will be a long climb past several division and conference rivals, but here are some reasons not to count Toronto out just yet.<\/p>\n
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Published Dec 24, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
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Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n It\u00a0could be one\u00a0of the\u00a0bleakest\u00a0Christmas\u00a0breaks on Bay Street in quite a while.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Far from a secure playoff spot \u2014 when an NHL-best 10th consecutive appearance had been taken for granted by most \u2014 the Maple Leafs go in four games below .500 (16-15-5).<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n They\u2019re glad to be with family the next few days \u2014 that\u2019s what the Yuletide is all about, after all \u2014 and maybe giving thanks for a few other work-related blessings that could still make 2026 a happy new year.<\/p>\n Our five factors why the Leafs should be grateful for this Christmas:<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play VideoIt\u2019s\u00a0Parity Time<\/p>\n In any other season, for any other team, twice hitting the bottom of the Eastern Conference would already settle its post-season fate.<\/p>\n Yet with their 6-3 win over Pittsburgh at home on Tuesday<\/a>, the Leafs had \u2018improved\u2019 from last in the crowded East to within five points of the second wild-card spot<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Last month, centre John Tavares fretted that the Leafs were running out of runway. This week, he was among those assuring \u201cthere\u2019s a lot of hockey left.\u201d<\/p>\n Winger Steven Lorentz, off to spend a few days with family in the Waterloo area, looked forward to a mental \u201creset\u201d before another vital divisional test Saturday against Ottawa at Scotiabank Arena.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll take two points now any way we can get them,\u201d said\u00a0Lorentz,\u00a0who scored on Tuesday. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have this\u00a0cushion going into the break.\u201d<\/p>\n Net results<\/p>\n How subterranean would the Leafs be without their goaltending?<\/p>\n Dennis Hildeby had to shoulder the burden of being a No. 1 for a few days and, for a brief moment, was among the NHL save percentage leaders (currently at .911).<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Joseph Woll chose to keep the reason for his early month-long absence at home to himself, but has paid back the team\u2019s patience with five wins in his past seven decisions and his own sparkling save percentage of .923.<\/p>\n That includes some timely saves, such as Tuesday on a wide-open Anthony Mantha following one of more than 40 giveaways charged to Toronto in the past two games alone.<\/p>\n \u201cSolid, I can\u2019t complain about (either) of them,\u201d head coach Craig Berube said of his netminders. \u201cWe put Hildeby in a hell of a spot and Woll has come back after his injury (nearly two weeks early in December) and done a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n Stretching out Troy Stecher<\/p>\n The dream of the\u00a0Leafs\u00a0meeting the Oilers in an all-Canadian Cup final is far-fetched now, but Edmonton did Toronto a huge\u00a0favour\u00a0by putting the veteran\u00a0defenceman\u00a0on waivers.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He\u2019s a small man who plays big \u2014 in some cases better than some Leafs regulars \u2014 and at plus-10 is second only to Jake McCabe on the club.<\/p>\n He bridged the gap the past few weeks to Chris Tanev\u2019s return<\/a> and, notably, was kept in the lineup Tuesday ahead of Simon Benoit.<\/p>\n The thrill of the kill<\/p>\n With all the ink on the last-place power play \u2014 13.0% and so bad despite the Leafs\u2019 star power that coach Marc Savard was fired his week \u2014 the penalty kill is hot, hot, hot.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Maple Leafs get wake-up call from Marc Savard firing<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1225-max-domi-maple-leafs-scores.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.2.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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