They have lost their minds

[badams]

TORONTO (CP) - It wasn't quite Don Waddell's playoff guarantee of last month for the Atlanta Thrashers but head coach Pat Quinn insists his Toronto Maple Leafs can still join the spring-time party despite their recent losing slide.

''We haven't shown it real well in the past little while, but I believe these guys are good players and I believe we're going to be a playoff team, I really believe that,'' said Quinn, whose team is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since he took over in 1998-99.

No matter how you spin it, Tuesday's home game with the Montreal Canadiens is about as big as they come at this point. The surging Habs are seven points ahead of Toronto for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

''We have to prepare like that's the Stanley Cup game for us,'' said Quinn.

In between Montreal and Toronto sits ninth-place Atlanta, four points back, and 10th-place Boston, six back. Suddenly the New York Islanders are only one point behind the Leafs and they host Toronto on Friday night.

It's scoreboard-watching time and that's OK with Quinn.

''They have to know what's going on,'' the coach said of his players being aware of the other teams they're battling with. ''You can't play with a bag on your head, you have to know where you are, what's going on, and what you have to accomplish. And sure, it adds more onus to make sure that you pay attention to your tasks and do your job.''

Since improving to a season-high nine games over .500 with a win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 2, the Leafs have gone 4-14-2 and slid down the Eastern Conference standings. With the trade deadline arriving Thursday, GM John Ferguson insists he's not a seller, still believing in his team.

There were signs Saturday night that the Leafs may be close to turning the corner. They played a solid 40 minutes before the high-powered Ottawa Senators took over in the third and won 4-2, handing Toronto its fifth straight loss.

''Our defensive game was much better (Saturday). We had a good effort through our lineup,'' said Quinn.

A look at the five teams in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and what lies ahead:

Montreal: The Habs have won the first three of their six-game road trip coming out of the Olympic break, including an impressive 6-2 thumping of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night, a win that put them only two points behind the defending Stanley Cup champion for seventh in the conference. They've gone 6-0-2 in their last eight games to vault ahead of their playoff challengers.

They could arrive in Toronto with a nine-point gap on the Leafs if they can pull off another road win Monday night at Philadelphia. They've got another tough one at Boston on Thursday before heading home to host the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Atlanta: The Thrashers have gone 5-2-0 in their last seven games, including Saturday's 3-2 OT home win over Washington. They host Florida on Monday, the Rangers on Wednesday and the Senators on Friday. Waddell, the team's GM, is on the lookout to add a centre before Thursday's deadline. -

Boston: The Bruins went up 2-0 Saturday only to lose 3-2 to Buffalo at home. Now they must play the Sabres on the road Tuesday in a tough game to win. Then comes the Habs at home Thursday followed by the Islanders on Saturday. The Bruins have gone 3-4-2 in their last nine games and continue to struggle to find the consistency that will help them get into eighth.

Toronto: Following the Habs and Islanders this week, the Leafs host the Lightning on Saturday night. They have 10 games left at home, 12 on the road. At least two wins this week is a must. Toronto also had three games left this season against Montreal, a head-on opportunity to make up six points.

Islanders: It felt like the season was lost last Tuesday night when Montreal came into Long Island and won 5-3. But the Isles rebounded with home wins over New Jersey and Philadelphia to get back into the hunt. They have a winnable game at Washington on Monday followed by home dates with the Devils on Tuesday and the Leafs on Friday. The weeks wraps up in Boston on Saturday. The Isles have gone 4-3-1 since Feb. 1.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

how long til quinn's neck is on the chopping block, i wonder?

can't be too far off now

[rubberdinghy]

hopefully soon.

[Freak By Night]

If they lose to the Habs tonight, expect wholesale changes to the Leafs by Thursday. Quinn, Belfour, McCabe, Andropov.... all gone. Sundin will be gone in the off-season.

[badams]

Reports indicate McCabe turned down a 4 year deal the other night for something like 4.25 Mil a year. I think he will be dealt. He wants 5 Mil per year but that may be over paying him.

Belfour would like to play for a contender and he probably has enough in the tank for one more run at it.

Quinn needs a change himself. He has lost this team.

Sundin needs a chance at the Cup. He's not going to get it in Toronto.

HABS #1

[rubberdinghy]

may be over paying him.

that IS over paying him!

[Hal Johnson]

How crazy would it be if the Leafs went after Jose? I mean, why not? I dunno, havent given it much thought, just popped in to mind now..so, er, ya.

[Jaimoe]

Great and insightful interview with Ferguson Jr. in the intermission of last night's game on TSN. I looks like the TSN producers thought that they would get a different Ferguson than the Ferguson that has been consistently the worst interview in sports.