If you are a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, then you should know you have a higher likelihood of catching the flu than your team has of qualifying for the playoffs this season.

The Center for Disease Control says we all have a 10% chance of contracting the flu.

According to to Sports Logiq’s recent probability assessment, the Maple Leafs only have a 5.2% probability to qualify for the NHL playoffs this season.

Toronto is not the only team with a major task to tackle after the Olympic Break.

Playoff odds heading into the Olympic Break also paint a dreary picture for the two-time defending Stanley Cup winning Florida Panthers. They have a 13.2% shot at qualifying for this year’s postseason. That’s just slightly better than the odds (12.5%) of getting three consecutive heads, or three consecutive tails, while flipping a single coin.

The other interesting note from the Sports Logiq odds is that four Canadian teams (the Jets, Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks) have playoff probability odds of under 5.3%.  You have a better odds of rolling an 11 or 12 throwing two dice (8.33%).

The New Jersey Devils at 4.3% and the Philadelphia Flyers are 16%. On the good side of the probability chart,  the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes have odds over 80%. The inference here is these teams would be guilty of a collapse if they miss the playoffs. The odds suggest a minimum of six playoff berths are still very much up in the air. And most of us think there are probably seven or eight still undecided.

Here are other weekend notes:

2. D Man of the Day: New day, a new rumor about the Detroit Red Wings’ interest in another defenseman. Add Philadelphia’s Rasmus Ristolainen to Justin Faulk, Connor Murphy, Brandon Carlo, MacKenzie Weeger, Logan Stanley and Tyler Myers.

3. Long Time Between NHL Games: Former NHL defenseman James Morrison died last week at age 94. He played most of his career with the Maple Leafs, but he played one season each with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. He was a highly dependable defenseman throughout his career. But here is one of the interesting facts about his career: When he was in Detroit in 1959-60, he played as Red Kelly’s defensive partner. But by the following season, Morrison was in the AHL playing for the Quebec Aces. He ended up playing nine seasons in the AHL. However, in the 1969-70 season, Kelly was coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and brought Morrison back to the NHL after a nine-year absence. At 38, Morrison ended up playing two seasons with the Penguins.

4. Penguins Will Run Gauntlet: According to Tankathon.com, the Pittsburgh Penguins have the toughest schedule remaining when NHL competition resumes after the Olympics. Pittsburgh remaining opponents have a combined points percentage of .590. The San Jose Sharks have the easiest schedule (.527).

5. No returns: Could the Florida Panthers finish low enough in the NHL standings to keep their 2026 first-round pick because it is top 10 protected? The banged-up Panthers are currently 22nd in the NHL standings. They traded their 2026 first rounder to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Seth Jones deal. If they reclaim that pick, the Panthers must then send their 2027 first rounder to Chicago. 

6.Worn Out Champions: As if the Panthers don’t have enough worries this season because of injuries, they also will have the most players (10) at the Olympics. Their list includes Matthew Tkachuk who has missed most of the season with an injury, plus key performers Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett. This will be a weary Panthers team trying to earn a playoff team down the stretch. Can they avoid injuries in Italy?

7. Jarry vs. Skinner: To appreciate the goalie angst in Edmonton, one needs only to look at Tristan Jarry’s recent numbers. Since he returned from injury, he is 2-4-1 with a 3.80 GAA and an .864 save percentage. He has given up 19 goals in his past four games and he only played 35:40 in one of those games. Meanwhile, Stuart Skinner, the man Jarry replaced, is 8-4-1 in Pittsburgh with a 2.72 GAA. He is 5-0-1 in his past six games. How many seasons have we been talking about Edmonton’s goaltending and defense?

8. Fire At Will:  Red Wings fans shudder to think where their team would be without Alex DeBrincat’s 30 goals this season. It seems as if he has a reasonable shot for his third 40-goal season. But here’s a weird stat: DeBrincat also leads the NHL with 106 missed shots. That’s 26.4% of his attempts He has shot wide 66 times and fired over the net 27 times. Ninety-two of his shots (22.9%) were blocked.Â