They haven’t gone anywhere yet. Nothing is clinched. Nothing decided.



But it’s beginning to look inevitable.



The Maple Leafs won again, this time on the tail end of a back-to-back, beating the hapless Devils convincingly, to improve to 7-1-1 in their last nine games. Toronto is now on pace for roughly 96 points, which would be a massive 27-point improvement over last season.



If they can get to 97 points – which would take a 6-3-0 finish over their final nine games – it will match the greatest year-over-year improvement in franchise history.



Even if they don’t, however, this year is destined to be remembered for a long, long time. In part because none of us saw it coming.



***



The Leafs didn’t. The organization believed this season would be a step forward, what with adding Frederik Andersen in goal and Auston Matthews up front. But the playoffs were considered highly unlikely...