5 - Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs may be the hardest team to judge in the Atlantic, as they dropped four straight games after winning four straight. The issue is that they beat teams they should beat, and have lost to the league’s tougher competition, so that implies they are a middle-of-the-road group at this point.
4 - Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won four in a row, and have outscored opponents 12-4 in their last two contests heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Sabres. As of Saturday morning, they have the longest current winning streak in the Atlantic, and they are looking to extend it to five games.
3 - Florida Panthers
Last week, the Florida Panthers came so close to passing the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings, but they have now lost four straight. The only thing keeping them from dropping further is that they are still 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.
2 - Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings put up quite a share of pedestrian efforts after they added Patrick Kane to the lineup, but that has since ceased and they are 7-2-1 in their last 10. Detroit may still be a piece away from truly contending for a top-three spot in the playoff race, but they snagged one in these rankings.