The Toronto Maple Leafs have been showered with praise in recent weeks, particularly since defeating New York and Ottawa in consecutive nights over the weekend.

So, in an effort to manage expectations and alleviate pressure from his rookie-laden team, head coach Mike Babcock worked to pacify the excitement swelling around his club when he met with media Monday afternoon.

"Just chill," he said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Babcock added that plenty can change from one half season to the next, saying, "Let's not get carried away here."

Alas, it might be too late.

The thinking has shifted from progress to postseason-or-bust for many people who follow the Maple Leafs closely. The numbers that support them as a viable top-three team in the Atlantic Division are too strong to ignore.

This is a club on an 8-1-1 stretch, and which now has the 12th-best points percentage in the NHL and rising. Toronto has outscored the competition 40-26 over that span.

And, the Leafs have displayed positive signs over course of the season: Just one of their 20 wins has come in the shootout. They're one of seven teams averaging more than three goals each night. Six teams have a better goal differential in the East. Two teams average more shots in the NHL. They're a top-10 score-adjusted possession team. And only the Capitals and Blue Jackets have held the lead for longer.

These are positive signs worth talking about for the Maple Leafs.

Just keep it down around Babcock.

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