Links - Leafs feeling optimistic keeping an eye on eighth - North River Minor Hockey Association

Leafs feeling optimistic keeping an eye on eighth place LOGINREGISTERHELPYOU ARE NOT LOGGED IN NHLNBAMLBCFLNFLCurlingTennisGolfSoccerNASCARFormula OneIndyCar NASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesNationwideCamping WorldAuto RacingWorld JuniorsSpengler CupMenS WHCWomenS WHCHockey CanadaAHLBoxingCanada GamesCHLCISECHLFigure SkatingLacrosseMMANCAASkiingSummer SportsWinter SportsMoreOlympicsFantasyDaily LineShowsTSN TalentCommunityMainScoresScheduleStandingsStatisticsAnaheimCalgaryChicagoColoradoColumbusDallasDetroitEdmontonLos AngelesMinnesotaNashvillePhoenixSan JoseSt LouisVancouverAtlantaBostonBuffaloCarolinaFloridaMontrealNew JerseyNY IslandersNY RangersOttawaPhiladelphiaPittsburghTampa BayTorontoWashingtonTeamsPlayersInjuriesTransactionsDaily LineNHL on TSNTradeCentreDraftCentreeotText SizeTORONTO It was the kind of moment where Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson couldnt help but feel a little optimisticStanding in front of hundreds of kids on an outdoor rink Tuesday he told the crowd that he expects his 29thplace team to make a run at the playoffsJust keep believing Wilson said I think were eventually going to get thereThere is an undeniably good vibe around a team that has gone 612 over its past nine games and is starting to narrow the gap between itself and eighth place in the Eastern Conference The Leafs were still five points back of Tampa heading into play on Tuesday but the mountain no longer seems too high to climbWith the team in good spirits the timing of its annual outdoor practice couldnt have been much betterPlayers wore neck warmers on a crisp December afternoon and heard chants of Go Leafs Go! while being put through their paces Less than 24 hours after a 52 victory over Atlanta everyone was feeling goodIts easy to come here today and have some smiles on our faces said defenceman Francois BeaucheminSmiles were much tougher to find back in October when the Leafs dug themselves a big hole by starting the season 071 The rough stretch has left little room for error the rest of the wayToronto is targeting December as a crucial month to make a move in the standings With the team essentially playing every other day it has a chance to pile up some points in a hurryTheres already a feeling that things are heading in the right directionWeve been aware of the gap between us and eighth place and all weve been trying to do for the last couple weeks is close that gap said defenceman Mike KomisarekThe Leafs are facing another set of backtoback games hosting the New York Islanders on Wednesday before visiting Boston on Thursday They close out the week by hosting leagueleading Washington on SaturdayOne bright spot of late has been the production from the top line of Alexei Ponikarovsky Matt Stajan and Phil Kessel Those guys have combined for 21 points over the past six games while spending most of the time together as a unitKessel with...