Better safe than sorry, the Leafs will not play winger Joffrey Lupul against the New Jersey Devils. The only lineup change is John-Michael Liles for Carl Gunnarsson. Liles will likely be paired with Ryan O'Byrne, with Jake Gardiner moving up to the top pairing to play with Dion Phaneuf.
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The Maple Leafs have an excellent chance to move a step closer to locking up their first playoff spot in eight seasons with a win over the struggling New Jersey Devils Monday night at the Air Canada Center.
The Devils are six points in arrears of the eighth place New York Rangers and have lost nine straight games, mostly due to their inability to score without injured star forward Ilya Kovalchuk.
The Leafs may be getting an injured forward back in the lineup sooner than anyone expected, as winger Joffrey Lupul was cleared for contact in practice over the weekend and may return to the lineup as soon as tonight.
The Globe and Mail's
James Mirtle reports that the decision put Lupul back in the lineup will be made late Monday afternoon and only if he there is no question of his readiness.
"The decision will be whether he feels he is 110 per cent." Coach Randy Carlyle said after the club's morning skate at the ACC. "If he's only 100, he won't play. So we're going to wait and make sure."
Other than the possible addition of Lupul, no other lineup changes are expected for Toronto, who are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and could increase their lead on fifth place in the Eastern Conference to five points with a victory and an Ottawa loss in Boston.
James Reimer, who is 5-1-1 and has allowed only 13 goals in the last seven games, gets his eighth straight start for Toronto, while NHL shutout king Martin Brodeur starts his 12th game in a row for New Jersey.
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Leafs winger Phil Kessel has been named one of the NHL three stars of the week.
Per NHL.com:
Kessel led the NHL with five goals and tied for the league lead with seven points in three games. He scored two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist in a 4-3 triumph over the New York Rangers April 8. Kessel then recorded both of Toronto's goals in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Rangers April 10. He capped the week by posting his 13th multi-point game of the season (1-1—2) in a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens April 13.
The 25-year-old Madison, Wis., native has played in 41 games this season and leads the Maple Leafs with 27 assists and 42 points.
Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was named the first star of the week and Dallas goalie Richard Bachman was named the third star of the week.
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