In case you thought the Maple Leafs’ autumn affliction was a local strain of ‘Atlanticus Horribilis,’ just look around.

The seaboard is full of flip-flopping franchises, save for Tampa Bay, which lost Tuesday and thus has only a single-digit point separation (nine) from last-place Florida.

Those good folks at NHLStats confirmed our diagnosis that division and conference-wide issues — injuries, inconsistency and just plain parity — have kept the whole pack tight in unprecedented ways.

The number-crunchers say the Atlantic, in its current form, never has been this close so far into a season, with clubs completing 30% or more of their schedule. Five teams are at .500 or better while, next door, the Metropolitan Division features four of its eight teams above .500, but just five points sepa

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